Sister Supporter Explained

Sister Supporter are a British advocacy group who campaign for the introduction of buffer zones around abortion clinics.[1] The group also runs a hotline to gather information about harassment by anti-abortion protestors outside of clinics.[2]

History

The group was founded in late-2015 in Ealing, in response to harassment by anti-abortion campaigners outside of the local MSI Reproductive Choices clinic.[3] In 2018, after two years of campaigning, the group successfully got the local authority to introduce a buffer zone using a public spaces protection order, the first buffer zone to be implemented in the UK.[4] Following implementation of the buffer zone, reported cases of harassment against the clinic's staff and patients dropped significantly.[5]

In 2020, the group successfully campaigned for the introduction of a buffer zone in Fallowfield, Manchester.[6] [7] [8]

In July 2022, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council announced that it would be launching a public consultation on introducing a buffer zone around the Bournemouth British Pregnancy Advisory Service clinic following a campaign by the local Sister Supporter branch, including a petition that received over 4000 signatures.[9] [10]

In October 2022, MPs voted in favour of national buffer zone legislation which Ealing group Sister Supporter said will help woman to not receive “anti-choice intimidation and harassment at abortion clinics across England and Wales.”https://ealing.news/news/ealing-group-sister-supporter-set-to-see-its-protected-buffer-zones-for-woman-seeking-abortions-to-be-replicated-in-england-and-wales/

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Doctors are calling for 'buffer zones' outside of abortion clinics in the UK. Alice. Snape. May 30, 2022. Cosmopolitan. July 21, 2022. June 30, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220630183743/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a40139775/abortion-buffer-zones/. live.
  2. Web site: We’re still fighting for abortion rights in the UK, but we’re winning. March 13, 2020. Dazed. July 21, 2022. October 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211017115710/https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/48356/1/fight-for-abortion-rights-uk-win-buffer-zones-london. live.
  3. Web site: The battle for abortion clinic buffer zones in the UK. Daisy. Schofield. July 18, 2022. Huck Magazine. July 21, 2022. July 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220718093240/https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/the-battle-for-abortion-buffer-zones-in-the-uk/. live.
  4. Web site: How we won the UK’s first-ever buffer zone around an abortion clinic. openDemocracy. 2022-07-21. 2022-06-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20220627131000/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/5050/how-we-won-the-uks-first-ever-buffer-zone-around-an-abortion-clinic/. live.
  5. Web site: Here’s How Things Have Changed At The First UK Abortion Clinic To Have A Buffer Zone. Laura. Silver. BuzzFeed. 2022-07-21. 2021-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210517193120/https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurasilver/heres-how-things-have-changed-at-the-first-uk-abortion. live.
  6. Web site: Anti-abortion demonstrators banned from protesting outside Manchester clinic. Beth. Abbit. October 12, 2020. Manchester Evening News. July 21, 2022. February 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210228123204/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/anti-abortion-demonstrators-been-banned-19084454. live.
  7. Web site: 'Americanized' anti-abortion protests are on the rise in the UK. But a fight back has begun. Amy Woodyatt. CNN. 2022-07-22. 2022-05-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516014309/https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/europe/anti-abortion-manchester-protests-uk-gbr-intl/index.html. live.
  8. Web site: An interview with Sister Supporter. Daisy. Lester. November 28, 2018. The Mancunion. July 21, 2022. August 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813015948/https://mancunion.com/2018/11/28/an-interview-with-sister-supporter/. live.
  9. Web site: Bournemouth: Consultation over abortion clinic buffer zone. July 21, 2022. www.bbc.com. July 21, 2022. July 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220722013916/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-dorset-62252348. live.
  10. Web site: 4,000 people sign petition calling for aborting clinic buffer zone. Bournemouth Echo. 2022-07-21. 2022-07-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20220713105652/https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20263769.bournemouth-abortion-clinic-buffer-zone-4-000-people-sign-petition/. live.

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