Press Release Cardiff Student Union vote for abortion rights on campus

27/11/14

A pro-choice motion is being put to the student body at a meeting of University of Cardiff Student

Union today, Thursday 27 November proposed by the Chair of the Women’s Association.

As the motion points out, 1 in 3 women will have had an abortion by the age of 45, so this is very

clearly a student issue.

Despite having been accused of being against free speech, the motion calls for accurate

information to be distributed and calls for students to be free to make up their own mind about their

choice.

Cardiff Student Union is deciding whether to commit to a pro-choice policy at their Council meeting

today, Thursday at 5:30.

Kerry Abel, Chair of Abortion Rights said “The position the motion is taking is in line with the law on

abortion in Britain. Groups calling themselves ‘pro-life’ have been using the free speech argument

to stifle debate and intimidate students on campus. There’s nothing in this motion that restricts free

speech, students should be able to decide for themselves with all the options on the table. It’s the

anti-choice campaigners that want to restrict this”

Rachael Melhuish, the proposer of the motion and Chair of the Women’s Association at Cardiff

University said “Students will benefit from a pro-choice campus that respects their wishes and

does all it can to provide non-biased information which is free from blame and helps them to make

their decision. That’s what this motion does. We’ve also accepted an amendment which makes our

position on protest clear.”

Obstructions to a woman’s right to choose on abortion include false information which exaggerates

and fabricates risks, so-called “crisis pregnancy centres” that seek to deter women from this legal

medical procedure and protest groups around clinics that intimidate women into missing

appointments.

Notes for editors:

* Abortion Rights is the UK’s national campaign for a woman’s right to choose on abortion.

* Abortion is legal in England, Scotland and Wales provided two doctors agree the procedure is in

the patients best interest. Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless the mother’s life is at risk.

* The motion is available to read here: http://www.cardiffstudents.com/pageassets/your-voice/agm/

Motions.pdf and was proposed by Rachael Melhuish, the Chair of the Women’s Association at Cardiff University