 | |
| 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 attendingsexual health clinics inScotland. Their main goal is to have 150-metrebuffer zones established around clinics nationwide that provideabortion services in order to deteranti-abortion protestors and demonstrators.[3]
The campaign, originally entitledBack Off Chalmers with reference toChalmers Sexual Health Clinic in Edinburgh, was co-founded byUniversity 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 from40 Days for Life around the clinic. The campaigners claimed the protestors infringed on patients' rights to anonymity and health care.[5]
After launching apetition inEdinburgh on 9 November 2020, the group created a similar campaign inGlasgow and acrossScotland. Following this, the campaign was renamed to Back Off Scotland[6]
After a petition amassing 4,800 signatures was delivered, theEdinburgh 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 theConvention 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 theScottish Government.[9] Following the council's decision, a nationwide petition was launched viachange.org to petition the Scottish Government to create new legislation.[9]
In the2021 Scottish Parliament Elections, theScottish National Party andScottish Liberal Democrats included the introduction of 'Safe Zones' around abortion clinics in their electionmanifesto.[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]
