Sister Supporter

Sister Supporter are a British advocacy group who campaign for the introduction of buffer zones around abortion clinics.^[1] The group also runs a hotline to gather information about harassment by anti-abortion protestors outside of clinics.^[2]

History

The group was founded in late-2015 in Ealing, in response to harassment by anti-abortion campaigners outside of the local MSI Reproductive Choices clinic.^[3] In 2018, after two years of campaigning, the group successfully got the local authority to introduce a buffer zone using a public spaces protection order, the first buffer zone to be implemented in the UK.^[4] Following implementation of the buffer zone, reported cases of harassment against the clinic's staff and patients dropped significantly.^[5]

In 2020, the group successfully campaigned for the introduction of a buffer zone in Fallowfield, Manchester.^[6][7][8]

In July 2022, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council announced that it would be launching a public consultation on introducing a buffer zone around the Bournemouth British Pregnancy Advisory Service clinic following a campaign by the local Sister Supporter branch, including a petition that received over 4000 signatures.^[9][10]

In October 2022, MPs voted in favour of national buffer zone legislation which Ealing group Sister Supporter said will help woman to not receive “anti-choice intimidation and harassment at abortion clinics across England and Wales.” https://ealing.news/news/ealing-group-sister-supporter-set-to-see-its-protected-buffer-zones-for-woman-seeking-abortions-to-be-replicated-in-england-and-wales/