Strong views expressed as Abortion Law reforms divide opinion

Thursday 15 July 2021

Islanders congregated outside the States to make sure deputies heard their views about proposed Abortion Law reforms.

Deputies Carl Meerveld and Liam McKenna failed in their attempt to delay the modernisation of Guernsey's Abortion Law, meaning the draft legislation is likely to be rubber-stamped unamended this morning.

It would extend thresholds for legal abortions from 12 to 24 weeks, decriminalise the act of personally ending a pregnancy, and allowing for only one medical practitioner to sign off on an abortion instead of two. 

Protestors on both sides of the debate lobbied politicians as they entered the States Chamber.

Pictured: Deputy Meerveld was faced with a strong response to his sursis.

Camille Brouard, 28, from the Women’s Collective, came out to support the legislation. “I think that everyone should have the choice over their own healthcare,” she said.

“Hopefully they will vote to update the abortion laws in line with healthcare recommendations from HSC and in support of hundreds of people who have signed letters and come here today.”

Colin Mallory, 31, agreed that: "bodily autonomy is important for all of us. I don’t think that politicians should use their own morals to regulate other people’s bodies and regulate what is essentially a private medical decision.”

"Our body, our choice" from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.

Pictured: More than one hundred came out in force to protest.

Former deputy Sarah Hansmann-Rouxel voted for the legislation last year and came to the Chamber to decry Deputy Meerveld’s sursis. 

“There were really sensitive conversations that needed to be had last term, specifically around the extension [of legal limits]. To see the way those arguments have been weaponised, not for the good of the island, or the health and wellbeing of the people it’s set out to care for, but just because he [Deputy Meerveld] can.

“There are deputies who have moral objectives to any kind of abortion, so for them I can understand a vote against the legislation, but voting for the sursis won’t change the outcome of the consultation,” she said.

Jane St Pier, 54, said that improvements to the law are long overdue. “We need to bring medical healthcare for pregnant people into 2021,” she said.

Pictured: Placards were raised and both sides chanted as Guernsey’s deputies arrived.

Pro-choice protestors weren’t alone. Many people also came to lobby their deputies to vote out the legislation completely, or at a minimum to vote through the sursis.

“I’m protesting against this Abortion Law because I think it’s a very sick development for this society,” said Jean Forman, 71. “Women, on the way to finding their rights, have actually become quite selfish. What’s next?"

“I think abortion is horrendous,” said Maggie Tostevin, 69. “Life is precious, and I think most of the time abortion is used as contraception.”

Brenda Smart, 70, also came to protest against the proposed legislation. “I am involved with a lot of people who have disabilities to various degrees, if this had been passed when these people were born they might not be here.

“They are caring men, women, girls and boys, they are just a joy – I think this legislation is a crime and I hope it won’t be passed,” she said.

Pictured: It was a difficult and emotional morning for some following the publication of the sursis at just one week's notice. 

The Bailiwick of Guernsey’s Abortion Law hasn’t been changed since 1997 and HSC Vice-President Tina Bury opened debate by saying that significant public consultation has already taken place.

She explained how the changes were led by medical professionals who said that Guernsey's legislation in this area was preventing them from doing their job to the best of their abilities.