Abortion clinic buffer zone law needed 'quickly' - Gray
- Published
The 40 Days for Life group protesting abortion outside the Queen Elizabeth University hospital on February 14
A law to ensure buffer zones around abortion clinics is needed "quickly", the health secretary has said.
Neil Gray described protests from anti abortion groups outside medical facilities as "unacceptable".
Mr Gray was speaking at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) in Glasgow, one of several sites targeted by the 40 Days for Life pro-life group.
The US-based organisation have now begun a Lenten series of protests outside Scottish facilities.
The health secretary, who was appointed last week, added that he hoped to see legislation passed to restrict the rights of anti abortion protestors to demonstrate around medical sites.
Green Party MSP Gillian Mackay last year introduced a member's bill at the Scottish Parliament that would block any protests taking place within 200 metres of clinics.
Mr Gray said that the Scottish government were "very supportive" of the bill.
He added: "We want to see it move through parliament as quickly as possible.
"Of course we want to see a right to protest protected, but that cannot impede on women accessing medical services and feeling in fear of accessing those services."
Neil Gray said that protests from anti abortion groups were "unacceptable" outside medical facilities
Ms Mackay said that the protests amounted to "targeted intimidation" of women who were getting an abortion.
The MSP added that she hoped this would be the last year women would have to face the protests.
And she said that the demonstrations had an "awful impact" both on patients and staff.
The Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill, external proposes pro-life campaigners be fined if they a protest within 200 metres of medical facilities - with unlimited fines for serious breaches.
Demonstrations have taking place outside the QEUH for eight years.
40 Days for Life said the protests were simply "prayer vigils" to end abortion and took place as the group had "compassion and concern" for the women attending the facilities.
Robert Colquhoun, director of campaigns, said: "This isn't a way to target people.
"It is important to go and pray where abortion happens because abortion doesn't happen in the parliament, it doesn't happen in the law courts, it doesn't happen in schools and universities - it happens in the local community.
"We've seen many women change their minds who otherwise would not have changed their minds [because of the vigils]."
He added that if legislation were introduced the group would continue to protest within the law, but that other people may take action differently on an individual basis.
The group's CEO and president, Shawn Carney, said that the legislation would be "targeted bigotry" towards 40 Days for Life.