ING REE / ABORTION John Corrie's anti-abortion Bill into AUTONOMY conference 250 activists be limited to them.
based campaign widest possible support.
60,000 strong demonstration Unfortunately, the major debate at which drew over was whether or not NAC should become an all-women's campaign. Several women, hostile to the labour movement, argued that abortion was a woman's issue and, as such, the campaign should Such an argument, if accepted, would have condemned NAC to impotence in the years ahead. The very fact that NAC had been able women to defeat the Corrie Bill was precisely due to its ability - as a broadto draw in the As many women argued, the mass sponsored by the TUC last October - wasn't a 'threat' to women. It was a crucial factor in the defeat of Jane Davidson strictions was and is central not only in defending women's rights but in uniting working people as a whole against Tory attacks.
POSITIVE LEGISLATION In the event, the 'autonomy' resolution was heavily defeated although, it was decided, local NAC groups would be free to choose whether or not to allow men to affiliate and attend meetings, and delegates from * Willie Whitelaw won't allow affiliated organisations alone be Although the debate on autonomy ran throughout the two days of the conference, NAC did manage to work out a positive perspective for the period ahead. It was generally agreed that, now that the Corrie Bill had been defeated, the central thrust of the campaign should be fighting for positive legislation (around a woman's right to choose) and commiting an incoming Labour government to abide by this As part of this perspective, it was agreed to hold a forum on positive legislation in the autumn and a labour movement conference in the spring of next year to rally support Clearly, such a perspective will mean a long struggle. Despite the many Labour MPs to the NAC campaign, few committed themselves to making abortion rights a centre part of the platform of an incoming Labour This will only happen by continuing to build NAC as an ongoing campaign. taking it into the unions lighting to ensure that MPs abide podles TO * Leo Abse wants to increase fathers' rights and there's talk of making divorce more difficult for women with children; * James Prior wants to make it harder for women to return to work after having a baby and to hit their union rights;
women to bring their foreignborn husbands into the country; * John Corrie failed to restrict women's abortion rights, but abortion facilities are being cut and new restrictions are on the way; * Michael Heseltine's Housing Bill will make it harder for women on their own to find a place to live * Patrick Jenkin's cuts in the social services will hit women's jobs hardest.
In uctober, as part of the fightback against this attempt to return women to second-class status, a National Women's Festival is being called for. Sponsored by a wide range of organisations - from NAC to the Fightback for Women's Rights - it is seeking to organise a (women's only) demonstration and a mass festival open to everyone.
All those willing to sponsor and take part in the activities should contact: Festival Planning Group 374 Grays Inn Road, London WC1 by the growing i
----- pull-quotes -----
UNDER 5'5 SERVICES MEAN CUTS