In a vote of For 118, Against 1, Abstentions 0, The Scottish Parliament passed Gillian Mackay’s Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill on Wednesday 12th June.
Speaking during the debate Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay who brought forward the Bill passed on her heartfelt thanks to every member of the Parliament. She said that at each stage of the Bill MSPs had been respectful and worked together to pass this piece of legislation.
She said:
“Everyone has been respectful; everyone has acted in good faith; and everyone has recognised that the bill is about protecting women’s access to healthcare. Everyone has approached the debate in that spirit, even where we have disagreed.
And the MSP said that it had allowed her to see ” and be part of, this Parliament at its best.”
The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health in the Scottish Government, Jenni Minto ,described the passing of the Bill as ‘incredibly significant’.
This new legislation will ensure that in 30 specific zones, where women are accessing abortion services, a woman’s right to safety and privacy, will be protected by a safety zone. Those who wish to protest will still be able to do so in Scotland, except for round those 30 safe zones.
The Minister pledged that as the legislation beds in, future reviews will be ‘open, transparent and inclusive.’
All those who spoke praised the women and staff who had shared their stories bringing this issue into the heart of Scotland’s Parliament.
In closing the debate Gillian Mackay said:
“The biggest thank you has to go to those who came forward to share their experiences outside abortion clinics, even when it meant reliving incredibly difficult and painful experiences. I hope that they all know that the bill exists because of them. “
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, was a member’s Bill brought by Gillian Mackay MSP and creates safe access zones around all places providing abortion services in Scotland.
The UK may have been plunged into a General Election but the work at the Scottish Parliament, delivering positive change for the People of Scotland, goes on. As a worker at the Scottish Parliament building commented to me after the passing of the Bill, ‘It’s great to see democracy in action.’
Fiona Grahame