1.03: (Dawn Purvis) - From the backstreets, to Great Victoria Street

02/28/23 • 62 min

This episode contains an in-depth interview with Dawn Purvis. Dawn is a former MLA, representing the East Belfast constituency from 2007 to 2011. Following a period in politics she was appointed Programme Director for Marie Stopes International and led the first integrated sexual and reproductive health clinic offering early medical abortion care in Belfast. She now works in the social housing sector and is chair of Positive Life NI.
Dawn talks about her memories of abortion being discussed during childhood; her decision to join the Progressive Unionist Party; the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement; her thoughts on the current political situation; her experience as an MLA; opening the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast; shifting political attitudes towards abortion; her interactions with anti-choice protestors; and her aspirations for sexual and reproductive health going forward. After the interview the host and co-host discuss some of the key issues raised.
If you would like support around a sexual health issue you can call the Sexual Health Helpline on 028 9031 6100.
Useful links
https://informingchoicesni.org/pregnancy-choices-counselling
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/abortion-services
News articles
News article from 2012 regarding the opening of the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast
News article from 2015 regarding the volunteer escorts working at the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast
News article from 2015 regarding a harassment case taken by Dawn Purvis against an anti-choice protestor
News article from 2015 regarding the conviction of an anti-choice campaigner for assaulting an FPA employee
News article from 2017 regarding the closure of the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast
Resources
Health Committee evidence session from FPA NI regarding guidance on the termination of pregnancy
Justice Committee evidence session from Marie Stopes International on compliance with the criminal law on abortion
Health Committee evidence session from Amnesty International UK and Informing Choices NI regarding the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill

Previous Episode

1.02: (Audrey Simpson) - What about the women?

This episode contains an in-depth interview with Audrey Simpson. Audrey joined the Family Planning Association (FPA) in Northern Ireland as their Director in 1988 and maintained this role until her retirement in 2015. She led the first ever legal challenge into the provision of abortion services in Northern Ireland and was awarded an OBE for promoting women’s healthcare.
Audrey discusses her experiences of sex education in post primary schools; the firebombing and subsequent closure of the Ulster Pregnancy Advisory Association; the establishment of FPA’s pregnancy counselling service; FPA’s judicial review to seek guidelines for healthcare professionals on the provision of abortion services; the failed attempt at Westminster to extend the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland in 2008; the first all-Ireland conference on Abortion and Clinical Care in 2010; engagement with the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; and her aspirations for sexual health going forward. After the interview the host and co-host discuss some of the key issues raised.
If you would like support around a sexual health issue you can call the Sexual Health Helpline on 028 9031 6100.
Useful links
https://informingchoicesni.org/pregnancy-choices-counselling
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/abortion-services
Resources
News article from 1999 regarding the closure of the Ulster Pregnancy Advisory Association
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/413184.stm
News article from 2008 regarding the failed attempt to at Westminster to extend the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/oct/21/health-health1

News article from 2010 regarding the all-island conference on Abortion and Clinical Care
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/abortion-law-changes-urged-as-conference-defies-protests/28564074.html
News articles from 2001 to 2016 regarding the judicial review taken by FPA to provide guidance for healthcare professionals on the provision of abortion services in Northern Ireland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/1319624.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3726494.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7954077.stm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-35904497

Next Episode

1.04: (Clare Bailey) - Running the gauntlet

This episode contains an in-depth interview with Clare Bailey. Clare is a former leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland and represented the South Belfast constituency from 2016 to 2022. During her time in the Northern Ireland Assembly, she spearheaded legislation to introduce safe access zones outside abortion clinics, the first law of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Clare was a founding pupil at Lagan College, and is a Trustee of Informing Choices NI.

Clare talks about her memories of attending Lagan College; her contrasting experiences of growing up in Belfast and the Netherlands; studying politics at Queen’s University and her decision to join the Green Party; volunteering as a clinic escort at the Marie Stopes clinic in Belfast; being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2016; working alongside politicians with opposing views; passing legislation to introduce safe access zones outside abortion clinics; and her aspirations for sexual and reproductive health going forward.
If you would like support around a sexual health issue you can call the Sexual Health Helpline on 028 9031 6100.
Useful links
https://informingchoicesni.org/pregnancy-choices-counselling
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/abortion-services
Resources
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act (Northern Ireland) 2023
Supreme Court Judgment - Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland - Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Northern Ireland) Bill

News articles
A BBC article following the Supreme Court decision to uphold Clare Bailey's safe access zones legislation as being lawful A feature article from the Belfast Telegraph focusing on Clare Bailey
A video of political commentator Alex Kane singing on the steps of Parliament Buildings after Clare Bailey was elected to the NI Assembly in 2016