Gillick. An open conference had been organised by a joint meeting of Edinburgh Labour Women's Seetions, and was chaired by Val Woodward, an Edinburgh district councillor and member of the counci women's committee.
Alan emperon. at the Edinburgh University Centre Reproductive Biology Research, stressed his total opposition to the Powel Bill. 'It would be a disaster for reproductive research in this country if this Bill went through.
He outlined the many research would be stopped. highlighting the work be ing done on infertility, and all conditions like Down Syndrome.
He also pointed out a contradiction in the views of those supporting the Powell Bill at the moment 50 per cent of human embryos just peter out, and only research will allow us to tind out appens concert: to these : caiming to be interested in preserv. ing drew out the links between Powell Bill the Gillick ruling. Whilst the Gillick ruling does not apply in Scottish law, figures released by the Brooke ad visory centre in Edinburgh already show a drop in attendance of under-16's. that more work shoes be The done to expiain that under-los should go lorward for contraceptive advice in Scotland. Women agreed attend the demonstration in London against Gilich on 23 June and to try to involve LPYS branenes in ims campaign Warnock Yvonne Vrachon. it: newly appoinica WancoOfficer for the IGNC Scotland, and Rosina Me Crea of the Com mittee both referred to the experience of the mobilisation of the labour move. ment in the Corrie Bill campaign While the Powell Bill finding of the Warnock Report appeared to raise more complicated issues it was vital that the movemen onded once agai Rosina AcCre explainea Laboli totatopposition to the free vole mone MPs on this issue. All MPs in Scotland have been approached by the Committee 40 women agreed to take Intormation on and Gillick back to their VAMOUS paign and it seems likelv a new group will be set up in Edinburgh now.
It was recognised that the warnock report also needs fuller discussion and the meeting agreed to cirresolutions under-16 contraceptive avalably all unatur tion rights.
Attack in Edinburgh the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland another attack rights. heated debate on abortion cutes tha aborThere birth a woman's life The foetus was Full rights by the general assembly.
This position backwards for the Church of Scotland, and has promaned an minister amongst flially ministers, medical profession and in he pres press describes the decidark ages' and oints or hat less than 0.25 per cer of abortions occur because woman's life is at risk.
Brooke Advisory Centre was also quick to condemi the decision saying that it would not lower abortion rates but simply add to women's emotional stress.
This decision, in addition to the threat posed by Poweli and Gillick, shows how vital it is to build a mass campaign to delcuo women's abortion rights in Scotland
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Bite against the Powell The conference of over