A Woman'S Right To Choose

This Annual Conference acknowledges that the 1967 abortion law was a progressive step but it does not end the widespread discrimination and inequalities of access that occur in the National Health Service abortion provision. The current law does not allow women the right to decide for themselves whether or not to continue an unwanted pregnancy Delays often occur and the system does not ensure adequate provision for abortion services. The 1967 Act does not extend to Northern Ireland where abortion remains illegal except in exceptional circumstances, This Annual Conference demands that the Fire Brigades Union actively supports the campaign 'Abortion Rights' which is a campaign group formed out of the merger of the National Abortion Campaign and the Abortion Law Reform Association at the end of 2003 and was formally launched on the 20th March 2004. This new campaign changed some of the principles which were previously pursued by the NAC and ALRA. Therefore, this Annual Conference supports this new set of principles: • A change in the law which allows women in the UK lequal access to safe, legal, free abortion on their request • To improve the quality of women's experience of abortion • To extend the Abortion Act of 1967 to Northern Ireland • To place a duty on the National Health Service to provide adequate abortion services for local needs • To establish sexual health and abortion information in Trade Union publications