FSRH press statement: RCOG and FSRH welcome RCGP vote on the decriminalisation of abortion

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) has voted in favour of the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK today.

Please attribute the following to Professor Lesley Regan, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG):

“We very much welcome this important vote by the Royal College of General Practitioners. It places the rights of women and girls front and centre on the issue of abortion care in the UK.

“Removing the criminal sanctions associated with abortion care would be a crucial step in improving access to this essential area of women’s healthcare.

“The RCOG continues to call on the UK government to decriminalise abortion across all UK nations as a matter of urgency.”

Please attribute the following to Dr Asha Kasliwal, President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH):

“FSRH strongly welcomes the vote by the Royal College of General Practitioners in favour of decriminalisation of abortion in the UK. We believe women should be able to access safe and legal abortion wherever they live in the UK.

“Abortion care is an inherent part of reproductive health care and should be subject to appropriate professional standards and regulatory frameworks, not criminal sanctions.

“FSRH echoes RCOG’s call on the Government to decriminalise abortion care across the UK.”

ENDS

• For media enquiries, please contact the RCOG press office on +44 (0)20 7045 6773 or email pressoffice@rcog.org.uk
• The RCGP joins the RCOG, the FSRH, the Royal College of Midwives and the British Medical Association among other organisations that support the decriminalisation of abortion.
• In September 2017, the Council of the RCOG voted in favour of supporting the removal of criminal sanctions associated with abortion care in the UK. The College sought a position on this matter as it represents the group of doctors who provide the majority of abortion care services across the UK.
• In November 2017, FSRH’s Council voted in favour of decriminalisation of abortion care in the UK following in-depth discussions and a consultation with its membership.

About the RCOG
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women’s healthcare in the UK and beyond. It is dedicated to encouraging the study and advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynaecology. It does this through postgraduate medical education and training and the publication of clinical guidelines and reports on aspects of the specialty and service provision. www.rcog.org.uk

About the FSRH
The FSRH is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.