Student Campaign Brings Buffer Zones to Scotland

After four years of protest and perseverance, the Scottish Safe Access Zone Bill has passed through parliament and resulted in the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Act 2024. At the forefront of these protests stood the student-led campaign “Back Off.” Its agenda was to protect women from harassment outside of abortion clinics. The group fought for buffer zones to be implemented in the surrounding areas of these clinics to steer away anti-choice groups who are often found protesting outside of abortion and reproductive healthcare clinics. Despite the Bill being passed with an overwhelming majority in the Scottish Parliament in June 2024, what this truly means for the women of Scotland is yet to be fully understood as well as to what extent these protest groups will continue. 

Founded by fourth-year University student Ella Cheney back in 2020, the Back Off campaign is made up exclusively of women. The campaign argues that the law already in place is insufficient and that things need to change, drawing attention to the fact that they do not aim to fight on either side of the pro-choice/pro-life debate. The success that followed this campaign is a huge accomplishment for not just student grass-root campaigns but also women-led activism. The aspiration for this campaign to reduce or even eradicate the harassment suffered by women before and after entering these clinics is an aspiration shared by Scottish Green, Gillian Mackay who went online to state: “I hope that this is a turning point and the beginning of the end of the protests and that nobody else will have to endure them”.

With the backing of political figures, the act introduces buffer zones which encompass a 200 metre radius of the clinics. The intended aim of the act is fairly simple; to allow women safe access to healthcare. The passing of this act not only allows these buffer zones to be established but also encourages women to speak out on issues surrounding their safety and privacy, sending the message that their voices can in fact be heard. 

The introduction of this act aims to give women the freedom and right to privacy without any interference. However, questions have to be raised in relation to how far these restrictions will be taken and what this act means for people’s religious freedoms. With reports of a group being stopped for praying outside a Glasgow hospital and told that within the new buffer zones, this is no longer permitted. The religious organisation 40 Days for Life argue that they are simply there to pray for the women seeking an abortion, and to offer support to them, stating they are “motivated out of good intentions, out of love.” 

If praying and offering support is all these groups are offering, then what are these safety zones for? The answer lies within the personal testimonies shared through the Back Off campaign in which many women felt harassed by the very protesters who claimed to have “good intentions”. It is yet to be unveiled to what extent these buffer zones will be enacted and if groups such as 40 Days for Life will be able to exist in any form with legislation parallel to this act being replicated in England and Wales come the end of October. 

The campaign, run solely by women, protects women from harassment before and after entering abortion clinics, as well as the right to privacy. This act is undoubtedly a step forward in the fight for women’s reproductive rights and a powerful example of student-led activism with it quickly becoming clear that student voices can be heard. The full extent of the buffer zones’ success is yet to be revealed with the act only recently being implemented. No matter what side of the debate you may side with, this progressive act is beneficial for many women in Scotland, allowing them access to healthcare safely and privately, something that everyone should be entitled to.