Abortion law update delay ‘is a smack in the face’

A demonstration is being planned for next week on the Royal Court steps to lobby deputies as they enter the building before the debate.

The modernised abortion legislation was agreed last June, and was due shortly to be approved as law, but Deputies Carl Meerveld and Liam McKenna want a pause to allow further public consultation.

Camille Brouard from the Guernsey Women’s Collective said the proposed delay was very disappointing.

‘The sursis motion has come from two male deputies, it feels like a smack in the face really. It’s a key women’s rights issue, it’s about women’s rights over their own bodies, and I think that women should be at the centre of that conversation, but often in politics it is middle-aged white men who are trying to control the narrative.

‘We just going to have to rally again and show our support for the modernisation, and our message is that this is something that we need and want.’

A year ago the previous States Assembly passed landmark proposals that meant abortion would be decriminalised and treated as a health issue rather than a potential crime.

Under the existing law, which dates back to 1997, a woman or girl could be prosecuted if she attempted to force a miscarriage.

Deputies also agreed to increase the gestation time limit for abortions from 12 weeks to 24 weeks, but with no time limit on foetuses with severe abnormalities.

With his amendment Deputy Meerveld has highlighted that medical advances mean that most foetuses born at 24 weeks now survive, and he believes that 20 weeks would be a more appropriate cut-off time.

He was also alarmed to read in the legislation that women could self-abort right up until the point of labour, with no legal consequences.

Sarah Griffith was one of the original campaigners from 25 years ago when abortion was first legalised in the island.

She said the proposed delay was a classic example of flip-flop government.

‘This is a disservice to the women of Guernsey, and the women of Guernsey need to have and hold this choice themselves, and not be dictated to, particularly by a bunch of men.

‘I’m outraged that anybody would think that they can derail this piece of legislation that has been so carefully together.

‘He has zero idea. How dare he think that he knows better than the medical professionals who are bringing this piece of legislation forward?’

n Ms Griffiths has started a petition on her Facebook page. People can also email her at sarahgriffith@hotmail.com to show their support.

Deputies explain their move,

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