Pro-abortion campaigners in Edinburgh will “undermine free speech and fail women” if they succeed in imposing a buffer zone outside the city’s abortion facility. Margaret Akers, SPUC Campaign Research Officer, said: “Recent attempts to ban pro-life vigils outside abortion providers in Scotland are unjustified. Not only would such a ban undermine freedom of speech, but it would fail women as well.”

City councillors in Edinburgh have now agreed to work with other councils and the Scottish government in a bid to implement buffer zones that would stop vulnerable women from receiving help from pro-lifers outside of abortion facilities.

Pro-abortion campaigners in Edinburgh pushing to impose the buffer zone have been accused by pro-life activist Paul Atkin of making “unsubstantiated” and “defamatory” allegations against the pro-life community. This includes accusing peaceful pro-life vigil attendees of “harassment".

A series of Freedom of Information requests from SPUC to Police Scotland dating back to 2017 reveal that there have been no incidents linked to any of these vigils.

In addition, over a three-year period, NHS Lothian’s own Adverse Events Management procedure has no records of any such incidents in the area of the Edinburgh abortion clinic.

Pro-life vigils can be a lifeline for women

SPUC’s Margaret Akers said: “Every year hundreds of women decide not to have an abortion because they encounter a pro-life counsellor outside an abortion clinic. This vital pro-life work usually involves a small number of courageous people who pray quietly and offer a lifeline to vulnerable women.

“These vigils are peaceful, prayerful events.

“The vigils not only show a woman that there is someone who believes she can continue her pregnancy, but they also point her to people who can support her. Why are people so desperate to deny this support to women who need it?”