SPUC has told a Holyrood committee hearing evidence for and against buffer zones that such legislation is unnecessary and is based on a false assumption about pro-life vigils, and it would set an “alarming” precedent for freedom of thought and expression.

Today, 12 March, a SPUC representative appeared before Scotland’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee to give evidence against Green MSP Gillian Mackay’s proposed Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill.

The proposed “buffer zone” would impose an exclusion area of at least 200 meters around abortion facilities where all pro-life activity, including vigils that offer help to women in crisis pregnancies, would be outlawed.

Speaking to the Committee, SPUC’s Margaret Akers explained that “pro-life vigils in Scotland are a peaceful presence, primarily there to pray, and not a protest. There’s never been an arrest relating to pro-life vigils.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland told the Committee last week that legislation already exists to deal with any alleged criminality, and that its engagement with pro-life individuals outside abortion facilities had “not resulted in any criminality being identified”.

Mrs Akers also implored the Committee to “consider the ramifications” of criminalising “thought and prayer” as well, which would be “an alarming precedent to set”.

Noting that vigils seek to reach out to and provide women in crisis pregnancies with help, options not readily provided to women by abortion providers, Mrs Akers said: “A great number of the women I work with do not feel that they were properly counselled at a clinical level ahead of their abortion, and do not feel they were given all of the information in order to make an informed choice.”

Pro-life vigil saved mother’s unborn daughter

The Committee also heard from Alina Dulgher, a mother whose daughter would not be alive today if it was not for a pro-life vigil outside an abortion facility.

"The day that I turned up to my abortion appointment, a volunteer outside the clinic gently gave me a leaflet… I felt it provided me with exactly what I was longing for”, she said.

“Some would say I already [chose] abortion, but the truth is I didn't choose it. The pro-life vigil gave me the hope I was searching for Had I not received the support from volunteers, my beautiful daughter would not have been here today."

On buffer zones, Ms Dulgher added: “It is worrying that we will consider denying vulnerable women access to this potentially life-changing information, especially when facing one of the most challenging decisions of their lives that could have lasting ramifications on their mental and physical health.”

Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, who was arrested twice outside an abortion facility in England, told the Committee that pro-lifers like herself offer women “services not offered by the abortion providers”.

“We know many, many women who felt empowered to make the choice they wanted to make to continue their pregnancy because of the support we offered them, which might be financial support, accommodation, childcare, friendship, baby goods, private medical care”, she said.

Buffer zones deny women an alternative to abortion

SPUC’s Michael Robinson, Executive Director (Public Affairs and Legal Services), said: “Buffer zones rob women of choice by denying them an alternative to abortion. If such legislation is introduced, children who might otherwise have been spared abortion will be lost forever.

“Contrary to the narrative promoted by pro-abortion apologists, pro-life vigils outside abortion facilities are not harmful and do not harass or abuse women, as confirmed by Police Scotland. The myths and falsities advanced have already been debunked by SPUC.

“No justifiable reason has been put forward for why pro-life vigils shouldn’t be allowed to continue their important, life-saving work. Scotland must not deny vulnerable women a way out of abortion.”