THE NATIONAL Abortion Campaign is holding its conference in Manchester on the weekend. It comes at a time of massive attacks on abortion rights throughout the Eleven Spanish women went on trial last week for performing or having abortions. In the being debated which, if passed, will define aborIn Britain, parliamentary attacks on abortion rights have been successfully defeated by the pro-choice movement. this country, women still face attacks from the DHSS, the courts and through cuts in public expenditure The National Abortion Campaign has to decide how to continue to defend existing abortion rights and to fight for better facilities if women are to have more control over their fertility and their lives.
The experiences women face in other countries has a direct bearing on the choices facing Yet despite our success in major campaigning issue.
In some ways this has immediate appeal: there is a feeling that we can do very little on abortion rights during the lifetime of a Tory coverett. NAC is a very successful campaign and because of the close links between abortion we should campaign around this issue as well. But such an approach misses the point The right to abortion in this country is still under attack; indeed, it is still the main way the state attacks a woman's right to control her fertility and her life. Contraception may be inefficient and in many ways downright harmful, but the right to contraception is not VAC cannot stretch its limited resources to detending and extending abortion rights and also take on board the issue of contraception as well. We must make choices.
To ensure we defend our gains and obtain better provision for abortion we have to campaign tor better legislation. This fight has to begin now with the support of the forthcoming Facilities Bill. We need to put pressure on the Labour Party, particularly at its conference this year, to commit itselt to improve abortion legislation when it next comes into office.
NAC has to continue along the road for free abortion on demand, a women's choice. That's the choice NAC should make. under attack KEEP ST LEGAL .. DS