Dear sisters and brothers,
We're writing to ask for your help in building the protest for abortion rights due to take place on Saturday 3 March. A copyable poster and leaflet can now be downloaded here.
On 21 October, more than 220 people attended the Feminist Fightback conference at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London to discuss issues including socialist feminism, LGBT liberation, women workers' struggles, low pay, sexual freedom, prostitution, women in the Middle East - and abortion rights. To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act which legalised abortion in Britain, the organising session of the conference agreed to hold a torch-lit march for abortion rights in central London near International Women's Day (which is 8 March). With anti-choice right-wingers currently on the offensive, we believe that this protest is very important indeed.
We will be meeting on Saturday 3 March from 6.30pm at University of London Union on Malet Street (Goodge Street, Euston, Euston Square or Russell Square tube), to march followed by a rally. This event is open to all, men and women. We will be demanding:
No reduction in the 24-week time limit for access to abortion.
The right to abortion on demand (this means an end to having to get the consent of two doctors) up to the legal time limit.
The extension of abortion rights to women in Northern Ireland.
Abortion to be integrated into the NHS as an ordinary medical service.
An end to privatisation and fragmentation in the NHS; increased public funding to guarantee free and equal access to abortion.
Improved access to and increased choice of publicly funded contraception.
Clear, honest, comprehensive and confidential sexuality and relationship education for all children which addresses issues of consent and domestic violence.
A real 'right to choose' which also means the right to have a child free from economic and social pressure. This requires a real living wage forall workers, benefits which can be lived on and rise with earnings, universal publicly funded childcare and an end to the stigmatisation of single mothers.
Various things you can do:
Officially support the march. If you, your women's group or other organisation would like to do so, just get in touch.
Advertise the march as widely as possible by putting the information on websites, email lists etc, putting up posters, distributing leaflets (both of which can be downloaded for copying at the link above).
Bring a delegation on the march (if you can let us know in advance, that would be helpful for planning, but of course you can just turn up on the day - the more, the merrier!)
Invite a speaker to your women's group etc to tell you more about the march, Feminist Fightback, ENS Women or feminist activism generally!
We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you on 3 March!
In solidarity,
Debbie Hollingsworth and Laura Schwartz
Feminist Fightback organising team
Sofie Buckland
National Union of Students National Executive
www.fightback.org.uk / www.socialistfeminist.org.uk
team@fightback.org.uk
07890 209 479
Blair: Single mothers `piling up problems'
Blair: Single mothers `piling up problems' in Britain's inner cities
Independent, The (London), Mar 23, 2005 by Colin Brown Deputy Political Editor
SINGLE TEENAGE mothers are "piling up problems" in the country's inner-city areas, Tony Blair said yesterday as he spoke to faith groups about the importance of religion in politics.
After a speech to an invited audience at Faithworks, a religious group, Mr Blair was asked about juvenile crime and the role of schools in helping to steer youngsters away from crime.
Mr Blair said that, as well as boosting policing, politicians had to think about addressing the underlying causes of crime. "In the inner- city areas, some of our young girls, our young women, start families very, very young. We are piling up problems for the future when that happens. I think it is important that they get role models at school and in the community, where they see it is not a great life, trying to bring up a single-parent family at 17 or 18 - actually it is pretty miserable."
When the Conservatives were in government, Labour attacked them for targeting teenage mothers. The Prime Minister's official spokesman denied Mr Blair was being hypocritical. "I am not going to comment on what the Prime Minister may have done when he was leader of the Opposition ...I don't think the Prime Minister would be wanting to blame any particular group for the ills within communities."
Mr Blair said he did not want religion to be mixed up in the election campaign, after the Roman Catholic Cardinal, Cormac Murphy- O'Connor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, called for abortion to become an election issue.
"I do not want to end up with an American style of politics, with us all going out there beating our chest about our faith," he said. "Politics and religion ... if it ends up being used in the political process, I think that is a bit unhealthy."
However, John Reid, the Secretary of State for Health, threw his weight behind those calling for the upper time limit on abortion to be reduced from 24 weeks. He accused Michael Howard of "boasting" about voting for a lower time limit - but he had failed to do so. Mr Reid said he had voted for a reduction to 18 weeks when it was last debated in 1990.
Mr Reid, a Catholic, said "It has always been matter of conscience. Michael Howard, with serial opportunism, is attempting to exploit the issue rather than address it. I have taken a far more pro-life stance than Mr Howard on these matters."
Philip Hensher, page 39
List of speakers and supporters - please add your group
MARCH FOR ABORTION RIGHTS GAINS MOMENTUM - PLEASE ADD YOUR SUPPORT
2007 is the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act, which legalised abortion in Britain. The 21 October Feminist Fightback conference agreed to organise a march for abortion rights on Saturday 3 March. There are now just under two weeks to go, and the march is gaining momentum. Please advertise it, come along, bring a delegation - and contact us to add your or your group's official support!
Confirmed speakers so far:
- Katy Clark - Labour MP for North Ayshire and Arran
- Maria Exall - Trade Union Congress LGBT officer
- Sofie Buckland - National Union of Students national executive
- Kate Ahrens - Leicester Health Unison and Keep Our NHS Public activist
- Debbie Hollingsworth - Ruskin College SU Women’s Officer
- European Women’s Lobby - speaker from the Portugal referendum campaign
Other supporting organisations and individuals include:
- Education Not for Sale Women
- National Union of Students Women's Campaign
- Marge Berer - editor, Reproductive Health Matters journal
- International Union of Sexworkers
- Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq (UK)
- Sussex University Women's Group
- Nottingham University Women’s Group
- Emma Clossick - co-chair, Oxford University Women’s Group
- RMT Women’s Advisory Committee
- John McDonnell MP
- Carolyn Leckie - Scottish Socialist Party MEP
- Petra Urwin - SOAS Women’s Society president
- Janine Booth - Hackney TUC President
- Socialist Youth Network
- Mary Partington - SYN Women’s Officer and Feminists 4 John McDonnell
- Scottish Socialist Youth Women's Network
- Louise Gold - Sheffield University, NUS Women’s Committee 2004-6
- Laura Sterry - Nottingham University
- Laura Schwartz - University of East London
- Susie Orbach - author of "Fat is a feminist issue"
- Teodora Todorova - Nottingham University Women’s Officer.
Rhythms of Resistance and Bradford Samba will be playing. For more info, for posters and flyers to distribute in your area, or to add yourself to the list of supporters, get in touch at team@fightback.org.uk or see www.fightback.org.uk