The motion aimed to “safeguard women’s reproductive rights against any potential political or legal regression”. It passed “comfortably” according to the news report. The proposer, Kim Marshall, praised the buffer zone legislation that was passed in the Scottish Parliament in June and means that anti-abortion protests within 200m of abortion service providers are now banned in Scotland.
Marshall noted the anti-abortion protesters seen outside the SNP conference venue, bearing signs. “As you might expect, I had a few words to say to them. Very choice ones.”
Here is the full text of the motion:
“Conference notes the recent developments in the United States, where the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, have led to significant rollbacks in women’s reproductive rights across several states. This landmark decision had protected women’s right to choose for nearly half a century. In contrast, France took a proactive step in 2023 by enshrining the right to abortion in its constitution.
“Conference believes that women’s rights are human rights, and access to safe, legal abortion is a fundamental aspect of healthcare and bodily autonomy. The right to choose should not be subject to the changing tides of political or judicial decisions but should be a guaranteed and protected right within the highest legal framework of our nation.
“Conference resolves that the SNP would call for the right to abortion to be enshrined in the future constitution of an independent Scotland, safeguarding women’s reproductive rights against any potential political or legal regression.”
Postscript: Because the SNP is unlikely to achieve independence for Scotland any time soon, it would be wonderful if they could try to work together with other UK parties to promote this constitutional amendment for the whole of the UK. [Editor]
SOURCE: The National Scotland, by James Walker, 1 September 2024 ; Photo: PA