HE EXISTING LAWS regulaWales complex TUSLIME The - 1861 Olence Against the Persons Act establishes CENTIL The 191 Abortion Act lays down conditions whereby abortion is not Illegal, provided two doctors certify Inal 1nC these conditions.
Afterthe see in pregnancy where the foetus would capable surviving outside the woman's body were il to be born (so called "viability"), abortion is regulated by the 1929 Infant Life Preservation Act. Viable foetuses may only be aborted save the life the mother. Abortion law in Scotland differs in some respects but it still restrictve.
There is general agreement within the pro-abortion movement that a change in the law giving women a legal right of choice about abortion a a necessary part of achieving free abortion on demand in practice. But there are diffetences within S.1I0381 Abortion Campaign itself kind of law which would legally express a woman's right to choose Most imporantiv should a time limit on abortion - as now exists in the Infant LIfe Preservation Act remain? Or should the woman's right so make the abortion decision extend beyond the stage in pregnancy at which the foetus is usually considered viable?
Some people have a genuinely held 'moral belief that there is a point before birth when the foctus attains a fundamental human right — the right so life. They say that, from that point on, the foctus has the right to be protected by law from any therat to its ene woman en carries the feels the woman carries the foetus within her body. For the fervent anti abortionists, the right to life poin near conception.
For many who accept abortion and, they sav. a woman's rieht to choose this point comes at around 28 woeks in pregnancy, when viability begins. But one of the problems of concoding that howlises start to have mighte ar the time. of viability is that modical Sakurolay April 29:
Anton: Art Fron, Feu At the National Abortion Campaign conference on 29-30 April, a day will be devoted to discussing 'A woman's right to choose' and the relationship of this Socialist Challenge supporters active in the abortion campaign explain here the background to the debate, they consider NAC must stand for the months of pregnancy. advances already body al increasingly carlier stages in A woman's right to choose only up viability will certain increasingly limited choice. Such time ready-made target for attack by the 01L80015035353 with the White and Benyon Bills, and Governmen Ministers restrictions by lowering the existing 28 week limit to 20 weeks.
The legal position of the focus must match biological facts. That is, while the foetus is undeniably a potential human heing, it is not yet a human being while itis still dependent upon, and a part of, a woman's body.
In therefore has only potential rights which can be The potential humanity of the foetus and is already partially reflected in law.
Pregnant women's passports the acknowledge one person travelling. on the the worb and therefore stillborn, the claims representative of me dead Toetus, but caused the in her ownright If a focus of a certain age is given legal righis which then have 1o be weighed against those of the woman, who decides whose precedence? The doctor?
Lawyers? The Church? If we allow that the foetus has rights we limit our democratic right as women to have total control over our bodies and our reproduction. Our right to choose is usurped by the legislature and the courts.
protect viable foetuses represent Stre want the state to provide abortion facilities. We do not want it to tell us when we can use them.
Supporlers at a woman's meht to choose only up 1o viability claim that they believe women are capable and responsible enough to decide fo Hennelves about abortion before 28 weeks. Who do they believe is better ree abortion on Demand Sunday April 30.
10 am — All any ДИНИТ ПИСИН3012 maine areal Lanes OPEN TO ALL WHO STPPOKT NAC: AIMS qualified man the woman herseil 10 decide amer 22 weeks. Many 01 u ourselves. but what rent have we 1o -OLECE choosing to havg one?
UNCONDITIONAL abortion foetu unless there were pressing enabling fully understanding Treads involod in the procedure she makes this decision, we should support her right to do so. She must alsd be allowed to choose the method become 180 C delivered dead. we have scen who Jul and independent rahls of 1 own without interference the woman's right so choose dehate is not whether the foelus would be claimed at birth. must have unconditional rights over that foetus. between the abortion legislation oniy NAC, an lighting for the interests of women, to proposals Reform Assocation SEE HER LOBAL rights The State? Service facilities Tate abortion: no MP would should repard an issuc as fundamental OUCHSOIL people to accept.
PRINCIPLE
an MP to sake up restrictive to women.
support a restrictive Bill? No.
12 or Again for women.
restricted. If the Bill was implicated right to choose.
in pregnancy. would not choose late abortion for gencralise from such personal foelings CE CHICOU We do not consider that any the medical - the method whereby the forus is delivered alive (induced birth), or the one where it is If she chooses induced birth, then once outside her body the baby has to be given every chance of surviving mother. For us, the crucial divide in viable if it were outside the womb, bet whether it is still inside, and part of the woman's body. If so, the woman This is the principle on which the which NAC adopts ar its conference on 29-30 April aust be based. It is not the job abortion campaign take up such issues as the defence of NAME.. focuses. NAC should not adopt the which incor- ADDRESS porate a time limit on a woman's right choose by preserving the Infant Allisort of excuses are put forward carly late abortion, no doctor would do a agree to promote such a Bill, NAC as the woman's right to choose as a principle. difficult couph though that may be for many Conference, Even if today no woman requests SOCIALIST a late abortion, or would be ableto ge one if she did. NAC should still establish now the principle that for us, means a right to choose in law and in Parliament, this should be on the basis of a non-restrictve Bill with no drawn at the time limits. As a campaign that stands for woman's democratic rights, NAC responsibility for Bill North-west, Does this mean that the National Abortion Competite shit aer Bill giving a woman's right to chooso 28 weeks in pregnancy, we would judge that to be an advance on the existing law and a Sleue Potter would argue for NAC campaign vigorously to per that Bil passed, while explaining the ways in which women's choice would still be passed thi Fact that restrictions would sill exis again would not be the responsibility of NAC, since the campaign had nor taken the initiative in proposing such à Billin the first place. NAC therefore in compromises on women's rights for the sake of moral or tactical reasons.
the National Abortion Campaign is to truly represent the interests of women lirst and foremost, then it diflicult for must stand at all times for no medical legal restrictions on a woman's Abortion must be problems?" available as of right for women al any This is the principie on which NAC's proposals for a change in the law must be based.
I would like to attend the annual conference of Socialist Challenge supporters and enclose registration fee.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE GROUP (if any).
Do you sell the paper regularly?.
Please fill in and send to Socialist Challenge PO Вох, 50, CHALLENGE supporters in the North-west will he coming to the national conference of the paper on Saturday 27May in Londen, reports ALAN TITCHARD.
That was one of the conclusions Socialist Challenge supporters conference in Manchescer how on | April. Although the mocting wat smail, the twenty supporters who attended came from all over the observer travelled from Durham.
Paul Thompson, whn attended from Big Flame, explained that the Ілетпанола!
Martist Group cold not be pur down to tactics, "There is a difference over how we analyse the vanguard, and who we think the paper should be aimed ar*, he explained.
the editorial board, argued that Big Flame would paper if diey accepled the invitation -to join the editorial board. Thompson reported that Big Flame would he discussing LAL proJect -BL Socialist Challenge at its forthconting Supporters debated many aspects of the baner —— from tbe moster cover on the French elections to problems of DOLE SEE OUTEL Everyone welcomed the open approach of Socialist Challenge but one comrade queried, Why does it seem to be SUBOOTELLA RCE contributions published, while SWP appear 10 few The best way to raise money for the aper was, in one comrade's view, t BONNE ZOME LOTUSE money to buy its own printing press.
London Conference made other practica proposals. including a call to the editorial boaru to orgaitise regulai tours by national speakers to promote the paper. ACIL to improve links between North-west supporters - a monthly newsletter CADE regulai meetings of supporters were discussed.
As well as these suggestions about supporters agreed bat in addition to education, local groups should get involved activity. Hus your local Socialist Challenge group debate the project of the paper ane pracuat proposeis to ex pan se infidence: If not, arganise one now and levite members of the Editorial board, We encourage reports on your Socialist Challenge National Conference.
Next week's issue SOCIALIST CHALLENGE will be rinting an in-depth report on th National Women's Liberation Con disedenis in the Soviet nice n Terence: letter from fcature on Cuban cinema; as well as a one-page analysis and review of the Communist Party debate on the Morning Star The following issue will be centred on issues related to two major events: the anti-nuclear denionstration on Saturday 29 April, and the anti-racist Carnival the next day. There will be several major 'speak-outs* including one by Rock Against Racism, and anocher by the Socialist Environment and Resources Assocation.
In addition, the Surplus Value will raise many of the questions to be detacation conference in London. debated The Politics
tion, wages.
St Street, SW4,
----- pull-quotes -----
demand to abortion law. and why unrestricted right of women to choose throughout the full nine
NATIONAL ABORTION CAMPAIGN CONFERENCE 29-30 APRIL
Service partitics fith od Health Stories, for women would want y
*We're coming to the Socialist Challenge Conference'
£1 N12PX