2016-03-01
Sarah Nielsen-Harvey
It was the second day of the Perth heatwave with a predicted 43 degrees. It was also the first day of Lent. But most importantly, it was the first day of a forty day pro-life prayer vigil outside my local sexual health care clinic. I woke up at 5am, prepared for a potential ABC radio and Channel 9 interview, and by 6.40 I was at the clinic with two friends, watermelon, lollies, lots of water, and signs that read 'Get Your Rosaries, Off Our Ovaries' and 'Your Body, Your Choice'.
We set up just down from the clinic and well away from the pro-life Christian group. For the first two hours, it was three middle aged men for pro-life, and three young women for pro-choice – indicative of the debate around abortion. We were set up where we could show support but also respect the privacy we were trying to defend.
Of course, organising such a counter protest at such short notice was difficult. For 40 days, pro-lifers were going to pray and sing, or what I like to call it, effectively harass, shame and intimidate people for accessing their sexual health choices (whether that be abortions, STI tests and treatment, pap-smear, or vasectomies). I had organised events before, and I was in the team that organised the Perth Climate Rally for the Paris talks. But never had I organised a protest alone, let alone a protest that goes for 40 Days.
A community of women
The messages of support from family, friends and even strangers was incredible. People were telling me their abortion stories, or their story of harassment as they entered a sexual health clinic. The story that always sticks in my mind is of my sister, who six years ago was harassed as she walked past the clinic and to the accountant next door – the cruel irony being she could not have any more children due to endometriosis among other medical issues.
It was these messages of support that gave me the strength and the motivation to keep organising and getting this done. The thought of forty days, which is still going, was tiring in itself. We haven't been able to be there every day, but this is our first time and it has been a learning curve of exponential nature. And really, when it comes to pro-life and marriage equality, who is more organised than the conservative far right Christian lobby?
Obviously debate was another thing that was bound to happen. There was only one response saying that they did not agree that a counter protest was appropriate. And there was one who commenced the full pro-life debate. She also said 'don't have sex if you don't want the responsibility'. Telling women they shouldn't have sex because they could get pregnant is not effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, and attempts to suppress sex and sexuality.
But this wasn't a debate around sex, education, or even the “moral” questions of abortion. We have a right to choose what we do with our own bodies. We can tattoo or pierce them. We can thrash them at the gym, or footy field. Or we can stay at home and watch Estimates like a true #auspol nerd. We can have sex. And we can have an abortion in a safe place, done by experts.
We control our bodies. And we respect those choices. We also have the right to privacy. It's a human right to privacy, and it is how Roe v Wade in the USA managed to flat out open abortion for the first trimester. Our right to privacy is what is being violated when these pro-life groups stand out the front of a clinic.
We need more than counter protests to re-affirm personal autonomy and privacy. Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory all have laws in place to protect your privacy, by implementing safe access or buffer zones around clinics.
Mehreen Faruqi in NSW has just introduced a Private Members Bill to decriminalise abortion and introduce these zones. And it is time the rest of the nation does too.
Some people raise the issue, does this set a precedent for protest buffer zones around mines, or forestry logging sites? I am not sure what the answer to this is. But to distinguish privacy and public interests is necessary.
We have a right to abortion and ensuring safe access is absolutely necessary. The actions taken by the pro-life protestors is harmful to the mental and physical health of many, and it is this threat to public health that should be key in reform.
Sarah Nielsen-Harvey is currently studying law, is a climate and social justice activist and is the Greens Candidate for the seat of Swan in Western Australia