Hands Off Our Rights Event: What Does Roe v Wade mean here in the UK?

Rewatch our event: Hands Off Our Rights - What does Roe v Wade mean here in the UK?

At the end of June, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that affirmed the constitutional right to abortion. Abortion is now banned in at least eight states across America and the ripple effect is being felt across the world.

But what does the ruling mean here in the UK? 

Fawcett Society joined with BPAS - British Pregnancy Advisory Service, Back Off Scotland, Women's Equality Network Wales and the Alliance for Choice, as we discussed the reverberations of the US Supreme Court ruling. We also heard about the campaigning work happening across our four nations in our fight for reproductive justice and learnt more about how we can support women internationally without access to abortion. 

Maya Oppenheim, Women’s Correspondent at The Independent, hosted an incredible line-up of panellists who discussed and responded to the impact of Roe v Wade here in the UK, including:

• Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding
• Nzingha Hall, an Atlanta, Georgia based abortion doula, reproductive health counsellor and financial coordinator
• Kaukab Stewart, SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin 
• Katherine O'Brien, Associate Director of Communications and Campaigns at BPAS 
• Dr Kate Guthrie, Women on Web 

This event brought together experts, campaigners and women across the UK, to reflect, reel and respond.