Abortion Rights is an advocacy organisation that promotes access to abortion in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 2003 by the merger of the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA) and the National Abortion Campaign (NAC).[1] The ALRA campaigned effectively after World War II for the elimination of legal obstacles to abortion and the peak of its work was the Abortion Act 1967.
Badges from the 1970s campaigning to keep and expand the achievements of the ALRA
At the end of their first year they had 35 new members, and by 1939 they had almost 400. The membership were gathered from the working class using labour groups and women's branches of the co-operative movement. These women wanted the privileges that “moneyed classes had enjoyed for years.”[3]
The ALRA was very active between 1936 and 1939 sending speakers around the country to talk about Labour and Equal Citizenship and attempted to have letters and articles published in newspapers. They were in the frame when a member of the ALRA's Medico-Legal Committee received the case of a fourteen-year-old girl who had been raped, and she received a termination of this pregnancy from Dr. Joan Malleson, a progenitor of the ALRA.[3]
Alice Jenkins wrote an important book titled "Law For The Rich" which was published in 1960.[4] Her book drew attention to the double standards that faced women with unwanted pregnancies. Abortion was nominally illegal so many women had to give birth to unplanned children, however rich women could persuade their private doctors that their mental health was at risk. The doctors were then able to carry out an abortion that was denied to most women in Britain.[5]
During the 1970s and 1980s there were several proposed amendment bills against the Abortion Act 1967, so in defense of the Abortion Act 1967 The National Abortion Campaign (NAC) was formed in 1975.[6]
Lobbying for changeEdit
Vera Houghton became the chair of the ALRA in 1963 and over the next seven years she led the organisation.[7] The ALRA's turning point was to gain the support of the Liberal Party MP David Steel, who placed a private members bill through the House of Commons to reform the laws of abortion, choosing this issue over calls to instead amend the law on plumbers or the rights of homosexuals. He cites Alice Jenkin's argument in her book "Law For The Rich" as being pivotal in his decision.[5] Steele put forward a private members bill that was backed by the government and it resulted in the 1967 Abortion Act.[8]
In 1974 the ''Working Women's Charter" was launched at the Trades Union Congress headquarters in London. The charter was an attempt to bridge the gap between women's economic and social requirements. and included equal pay, an end to the glass ceiling, free contraception and access to abortion.[9] In 1975, the Scottish politician James White introduced a bill in parliament to make abortion more difficult.[10] A demonstration was arranged to protest at moves to restrict the then legal access to abortion. This demonstration led to the formation of National Abortion Campaign.[11]
''Abortion Rights" was formed in 2003 by the merger of the "Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA)" and the "National Abortion Campaign" (NAC).[1] The organization is led by Anne Quesnay.[12]
^ ab"Who we are". Abortion Rights. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
^ abStephen Brooke, ‘Jenkins , Alice Brook (1886–1967)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, May 2006; online edn, May 2008 accessed 24 Oct 2017
^ abcHindell, Keith; Madeline Simms (1968). "How the Abortion Lobby Worked". The Political Quarterly: 271–272.
^Alice Jenkins (1960). Law for the Rich. Gollancz.
^ abWard, Lucy (24 October 2007). "Abortion: Lucy Ward talks to David Steel". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
^"National Abortion Campaign". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
^Hall, Lesley (8 January 2014). "'Lobbied, charmed and persuaded'". Wellcome Library. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
^"Obituary" Sir John Peel". The Daily Telegraph. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
^Saner, Emine (10 November 2014). "The working women's charter: forty years on, women are still struggling". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
^"James White". The Daily Telegraph. 26 February 2009. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
^"National Abortion Campaign archives now available". Wellcome Library. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
^O'Hara, Mary; O’Hara, Mary (8 August 2006). "Born campaigner". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
External linksEdit
Official website
The archives of the National Abortion Campaign are available for study at the Wellcome Collection.
The archives of the Abortion Law Reform Association are available for study at the Wellcome Collection.
October 24, 2023
abortion, rights, organisation, abortion, reform, association, redirects, here, confused, with, abortion, reform, association, zealand, abortion, rights, advocacy, organisation, that, promotes, access, abortion, united, kingdom, formed, 2003, merger, abortion,. Abortion Law Reform Association redirects here Not to be confused with Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand Abortion Rights is an advocacy organisation that promotes access to abortion in the United Kingdom It was formed in 2003 by the merger of the Abortion Law Reform Association ALRA and the National Abortion Campaign NAC 1 The ALRA campaigned effectively after World War II for the elimination of legal obstacles to abortion and the peak of its work was the Abortion Act 1967 Badges from the 1970s campaigning to keep and expand the achievements of the ALRA Contents 1 History 2 Lobbying for change 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe Abortion Law Reform Association was founded in the United Kingdom in 1936 by Janet Chance Alice Jenkins Joan Malleson 2 and Stella Browne 3 Its intention was to change attitudes and the law to allow access to abortion in the United Kingdom Janet Chance created the funding and the marketing whilst Alice Brook Jenkins was the honorary secretary Jenkins created a network of supporters 2 At the end of their first year they had 35 new members and by 1939 they had almost 400 The membership were gathered from the working class using labour groups and women s branches of the co operative movement These women wanted the privileges that moneyed classes had enjoyed for years 3 The ALRA was very active between 1936 and 1939 sending speakers around the country to talk about Labour and Equal Citizenship and attempted to have letters and articles published in newspapers They were in the frame when a member of the ALRA s Medico Legal Committee received the case of a fourteen year old girl who had been raped and she received a termination of this pregnancy from Dr Joan Malleson a progenitor of the ALRA 3 Alice Jenkins wrote an important book titled Law For The Rich which was published in 1960 4 Her book drew attention to the double standards that faced women with unwanted pregnancies Abortion was nominally illegal so many women had to give birth to unplanned children however rich women could persuade their private doctors that their mental health was at risk The doctors were then able to carry out an abortion that was denied to most women in Britain 5 During the 1970s and 1980s there were several proposed amendment bills against the Abortion Act 1967 so in defense of the Abortion Act 1967 The National Abortion Campaign NAC was formed in 1975 6 Lobbying for change EditVera Houghton became the chair of the ALRA in 1963 and over the next seven years she led the organisation 7 The ALRA s turning point was to gain the support of the Liberal Party MP David Steel who placed a private members bill through the House of Commons to reform the laws of abortion choosing this issue over calls to instead amend the law on plumbers or the rights of homosexuals He cites Alice Jenkin s argument in her book Law For The Rich as being pivotal in his decision 5 Steele put forward a private members bill that was backed by the government and it resulted in the 1967 Abortion Act 8 In 1974 the Working Women s Charter was launched at the Trades Union Congress headquarters in London The charter was an attempt to bridge the gap between women s economic and social requirements and included equal pay an end to the glass ceiling free contraception and access to abortion 9 In 1975 the Scottish politician James White introduced a bill in parliament to make abortion more difficult 10 A demonstration was arranged to protest at moves to restrict the then legal access to abortion This demonstration led to the formation of National Abortion Campaign 11 Abortion Rights was formed in 2003 by the merger of the Abortion Law Reform Association ALRA and the National Abortion Campaign NAC 1 The organization is led by Anne Quesnay 12 See also EditNational Abortion Rights Action League NARAL American contemporary organisationReferences Edit a b Who we are Abortion Rights Retrieved 20 December 2017 a b Stephen Brooke Jenkins Alice Brook 1886 1967 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press May 2006 online edn May 2008 accessed 24 Oct 2017 a b c Hindell Keith Madeline Simms 1968 How the Abortion Lobby Worked The Political Quarterly 271 272 Alice Jenkins 1960 Law for the Rich Gollancz a b Ward Lucy 24 October 2007 Abortion Lucy Ward talks to David Steel The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 19 December 2017 National Abortion Campaign Wellcome Collection Retrieved 14 August 2023 Hall Lesley 8 January 2014 Lobbied charmed and persuaded Wellcome Library Retrieved 20 December 2017 Obituary Sir John Peel The Daily Telegraph 2 January 2006 Retrieved 22 December 2012 Saner Emine 10 November 2014 The working women s charter forty years on women are still struggling The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 20 December 2017 James White The Daily Telegraph 26 February 2009 ISSN 0307 1235 Retrieved 20 December 2017 National Abortion Campaign archives now available Wellcome Library Retrieved 20 December 2017 O Hara Mary O Hara Mary 8 August 2006 Born campaigner The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 25 February 2023 External links EditOfficial website The archives of the National Abortion Campaign are available for study at the Wellcome Collection The archives of the Abortion Law Reform Association are available for study at the Wellcome Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abortion Rights organisation amp oldid 1170361654, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
