Government Minister defends pro-life activities outside abortion clinics

The newly-appointed Minister for Women, Maria Caulfield MP, has defended the actions of pro-life people who stand outside abortion clinics and "comfort" women in difficult situations.

Ms Caulfield, who has previously supported a reduction in the abortion time limit, made the comments in an interview covering controversial "buffer zones" proposals.

An amendment to the Public Order Bill seeks to create these zones outside all settings that provide abortion in England and Wales, in a significant crackdown on rights.

They would criminalise all activity pertaining to abortion in the area surrounding such settings, with any person caught advocating against abortion liable to a criminal conviction and 6 months in prison.

Pro-life organisations have said buffer zones - sometimes referred to as "censorship zones" - are an unjustified infringement of the right to free expression, and protest.

They also warn that legislation of this kind could create a harmful precedent, and lead to further curbs on lawful but politically incorrect expression in years to come.

CARE also believes buffer zones are "unnecessary", and "disproportionate". Speaking last month, Louise Davies, Director of Policy and Advocacy at CARE, commented:

"CARE condemns any genuine harassment outside clinics or hospitals. However, the censorship zones proposals debated yesterday have arisen from a desire to censor lawful expression, not out of any genuine need. They are symptomatic of a wider malaise in the public square, which sees people who campaign for the rights of unborn children locked out of debates and shut down. This is censorship.

"There is no need for new legislation to curb genuinely intimidating or upsetting behaviour outside medical settings, as such behaviour is already caught by existing public order laws. Indeed, the police have been monitoring pro-life vigils in the UK for decades, whilst upholding safety and democratic rights. People taking part in pro-life activity are generally in the older generation, sometimes engaged in silent prayer.

"Pro-life organisations stand peacefully and silently near hospitals or clinics with signs saying 'choose life' or ' we can help'. Over the years, many women have encountered such people voluntarily and made a decision to continue their pregnancies. They have been very thankful for this final offer of help years later, as their beautiful children grow up. In a democratic society, these exchanges ought to be allowed.

"Given the sufficiency of current laws, the peaceful nature of of pro-life activity, and the fact that some women do appreciate offers of help outside clinics, a blanket buffer zone law can only be seen as a disproportionate and unnecessary restriction of civil liberties. We hope Peers will appreciate the importance of free expression, including that which is uncomfortable, and strike these plans down."