On Tuesday 20 May, members of parliament will debate and vote on the anti-abortion amendments to the Human Embryology and Fertilisation Bill. The key amendments aim to lower the time limit for abortion. This vote is taking place much earlier than expected and with very little notice. In the limited time available, it is vital that everyone who supports a woman’s right to choose does everything they can to show their opposition to any reduction in the time limit. Please attend this crucial protest — and encourage your trade union, women’s group, student union or other organisation to send a presence.

We say: women must come first.

There is no significant scientific or medical support for any reduction in the time limit. Yet a handful of anti-abortionists are using downright propaganda and misinformation, hoping to intimidate and mislead MPs into attacking women’s rights. An overwhelming majority of the public supports the right to choose: MPs should uphold choice and vote down amendments by Nadine Dorries and any anti-abortion MPs.

Less than two per cent of abortions take place after 20 weeks. If successful, a lowering of the abortion time limit would be devastating for a small number of women in difficult, unforeseeable and individual circumstances and would encourage further anti-abortion attacks. Contrary to anti-abortion hype, research shows there has been no increase in survival rates for births under 24 weeks. There is opposition to any lowering of the time limit from the British Medical Association, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Association of Perinatal Medicine, Royal College of Nursing, TUC and national trade unions, the Department of Health and MPs across all three major parliamentary political parties.

Write to your MP

If you haven't already, now is the time to write to, email, phone or visit your MP in advance of the vote on 20th May to urge them to vote against any amendment to lower the abortion time limit. A model letter and information on how to identify and contact your MP is available on the campaign website

Funds needed

Abortion Rights urgently needs financial support in organising this protest and in covering the costs of the campaign that has been organised. You can help by making a donation online or by cheque to ‘Abortion Rights’ and encouraging your organisation to do so.

You can also help by joining and by your organisation affiliating to Abortion Rights.

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