 | |
| Formation | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Lucy Grieve [1] , Alice Murray [2] |
| Founded at | Edinburgh |
Volunteers | 60+ |
| Website | https://www.backoffscotland.com/ |
Formerly called | Back Off Chalmers |
Back Off Scotland is a campaign group advocating against the intimidation and harassment of women attending sexual health clinics in Scotland. Their main goal is to have 150 metre buffer zones established around clinics nationwide that provide abortion services in order to deter anti-abortion protestors and demonstrators. [3]
The campaign, originally entitled Back Off Chalmers with reference to Chalmers Sexual Health Clinic in Edinburgh, was co-founded by University of Edinburgh students, Lucy Grieve and Alice Murray [4]
The campaign to introduce 100m buffer zones around the clinic was started in October 2020 after an increase of the number of anti-abortion protestors from 40 Days for Life around the clinic. The campaigners claimed the protestors infringed on patients' rights to anonymity and health care. [5]
After launching a petition in Edinburgh on 9 November 2020, the group created a similar campaign in Glasgow and across Scotland. Following this, the campaign was renamed to Back Off Scotland [6]
After a petition amassing 4,800 signatures was delivered, the Edinburgh City Council debated the issues and delivered their response in February 2021. [7] The council agreed that while they do not have the authority to implement the buffer zones themselves, they will back the movement and work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in order to support the campaign on a national scale. [7] [8]
Glasgow City Council wrote that they didn't believe they had the power to create buffer zones, and that this must be taken to the Scottish Government. [9] Following the council's decision, a nationwide petition was launched via change.org to petition the Scottish Government to create new legislation. [9]
In the 2021 Scottish Parliament Elections, the Scottish National Party and Scottish Liberal Democrats included the introduction of 'Safe Zones' around abortion clinics in their election manifesto. [10] [11] [12]
In June 2022, Back Off Scotland requested First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon to hold an emergency abortion summit in the wake of Roe V Wade and an increase in protests in Scotland. [13] The summit was held on the 27 June 2022 and attended by Alice and Lucy. During the summit, the Scottish Government announced their intentions to support the Back Off Scotland campaign and introduce buffer zone legislation [14]
In July 2022 the group held musical events in Glasgow and Edinburgh to raise funds for their campaign. [15]
In February 2023, Back Off Scotland spoke at the second Scottish Abortion summit. [16]
Lucy and Alice were critical of the Scottish Government's inaction over buffer zone legislation and voiced concerns that the Government were backtracking on their commitment to a national 'blanket' approach. [17]
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