TUC Women's Conference resolution on abortion rights

The TUC Women's Conference 2014 unanimously carried a resolution reaffirming the TUC's support for Abortion Rights and a woman's right to choose.

The text of the resolution is as follows:

37     Abortion rights

TUC women’s conference notes the Department of Health report  (Gender Ratios at Birth in the UK) confirms there is no evidence of gender selective abortion in the UK.

Conference is appalled by the actions of journalists who sought to generate this media myth by falsely claiming to be pregnant and seeking a termination from two doctors.  This cynical ploy was used to whip up support for the anti-choice campaign.

Conference notes there are 20 million unsafe abortions around the world every year – most of them in countries where abortion is criminalised or restricted. At least 47,000 women will die as a result, thousands more will suffer ill health.

Conference believes a woman’s right to choose is global and reaffirms its commitment to supporting women’s autonomy in making their own decisions whether and when to have children and access to safe, legal abortion as a health and human rights issue.

Conference resolves to;

1. remain vigilant in media monitoring and rebuttal of anti choice campaign messages;
2. support our sisters in Ireland and the ARC campaign;    
3. support the International Day of Action for the Decriminalisation of Abortion;
4. publicise the website www.womenonwaves.org; and
5. encourage trade union branches to affiliate to Abortion Rights.

Unite the union