NUS Women's Campaign & Abortion Rights Pro-choice Lobby of Parliament
Images from the Pro-choice Lobby, November 2006:
Building on the achievements of the Pro-choice Week of Action (23-29 October 2006), NUS Women’s Campaign and Abortion Rights organised a National Lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 22 November at Portcullis House. This was on the eve of the ballot in which twenty MPs can propose a Private Members Bill on a subject of their choosing. It is highly likely that anti-choice MPs will propose legislation to restrict women’s abortion rights if they get the opportunity. Therefore, the aim of this lobby was to give pro-choice supporters the opportunity to talk face to face with their MPs ahead of the Ballot.
There was also a photo shoot in Parliament Square where students wore "We are the pro-choice majority" T-shirts.
In the evening there was a Pro-choice Public Meeting in the House of Commons, organised by Abortion Rights. Speakers included Kat Stark (NUS National Women's Officer), Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee, Rebecca Gill (TUC), Laura Moffatt MP (Labour) and Jacqui Lait MP (Conservative).
We believe that is important that MPs hear why later abortion is crucial to the few women who need it; to expose the anti-choice myths that are dominating the debate; and to let MPs know that, contrary to the anti-choice lobby’s assertion, there is no consensus on reducing the time limit for abortion. It was also a great opportunity to let MPs know how these issues affect women students in further and higher education!
For more information see www.abortionrights.org.uk
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