SURVEY: 64% OF ABORTION CLINICS IN CANADA EXPERIENCE PROTESTERS

For immediate release  - November 16, 2010
From: Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, info@arcc-cdac.ca 

SURVEY: 64% OF ABORTION CLINICS IN CANADA EXPERIENCE PROTESTERS
But most clinics have no bubble zone protection

NATIONAL – A new survey by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC)
reveals that 64% of abortion clinics in Canada clinics currently experience
protest activity, while a further 15% have had protesters in the past. But
73% of clinics have no legal protection from picketing.

The survey, conducted by a UBC law student on behalf of ARCC, interviewed
staff at all 33 abortion clinics in Canada by phone. In addition to asking
about protest activity and history, the survey asked clinics about the
effect of protesters on patients and staff, measures taken to protect
patients and staff, and the effectiveness of those measures.

- Twenty-six (79%) abortion clinics in Canada have been picketed by
protesters, with twenty-one (64%) currently experiencing some degree of
protest activity, and five (15%) having had protest activity in the past.
Seven clinics (21%) have never had protesters.

- Sixteen clinics (53%) reported that patients and/or staff are negatively
affected by the presence of protesters, such as feeling upset, frightened,
or bullied.

- Twenty-one clinics (64%) have tried to reduce the impact of protester
activity by obtaining private injunctions, recruiting volunteer escorts for
the patients and staff, using security guards, calling in local law
enforcement, training staff on how to respond to protestors, and other
measures.

- Seven clinics (21%) have obtained private court injunctions to protect
staff and patients from protesters. Two clinics (6%) are protected by BC’s
provincial law, the Access to Abortion Services Act (which creates
protest-free “bubble zones” around clinics, hospitals, and the offices and
homes of providers).  Twenty-four clinics (73%) in Canada have no legal
protection.

- All clinics with injunctions or bubble zones reported heavy and/or
aggressive protest activity prior to obtaining their injunction or bubble
zone.

“The court injunctions and BC’s law have been quite successful – they have
significantly reduced protest activity at every clinic that uses them,
sometimes completely eliminating it,” said Joyce Arthur, Coordinator for
ARCC, and co-author of the study. “Women have a right to access necessary
health services privately without being bullied, and providers need
protection from anti-choice harassment and violence. We hope that the survey
data will be helpful for other provinces that may want to pass bubble zone
legislation, or for clinics thinking about getting a court injunction.”

Other highlights:

- Every clinic in Canada participated – a total of 33. There are 11
standalone clinics, 12 clinics located in a multi-tenant office or medical
building, and 9 clinics associated with a hospital.

- Seventeen clinics (52%) reported that the measures they took to protect
providers and staff from protesters were effective or mostly effective. Four
clinics (12%) said measures were not effective or only sometimes effective.

- Although protest activity has been relatively low and sporadic at most
clinics since the mid-1990’s, it is on the rise again with the anti-choice
“40 Days for Life” campaign that stages ongoing “vigils” outside abortion
clinics once or twice a year.

- Nineteen clinics (58%) said that bubble zone legislation similar to BC’s
would be desirable for their clinic.

The full report is available at
http://www.arcc-cdac.ca/presentations/ARCC-survey-protest-activity.pdf
(English only).

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