Broad Left Newsletter
Autumn 2000
A woman's right to choose
Cambridge are holding a University-wide referendum in November on whether or not
to affiliate to the National Abortion Campaign (NAC).
A motion to council to affiliate to NAC was proposed in order to show CUSU's commitment to
women's choice by affiliating. Things then became a lot more
complicated! An initial vote at CUSU council was passed overwhelmingly -
47 in favour, 4 against and 4 abstentions - but when votes were confirmed
at the following council a complete turnaround had taken place, though the
final vote remained close: 24 voted in favour of affiliation, 26 voted
against and 5 abstained.
This dramatic change arose because of a large campaign conducted by
anti-abortion students at the University. It was a distressing council meeting
- many voting members of council voted not to affiliate against their individual
consciences but were forced to do so because they had been mandated by their
individual college student unions not to affiliate.
In the run up to the referendum a number of things have become clear.
- It is vital that students are properly informed about current abortion
provision in the UK and the fact that it infringes women's rights as
responsible adults to have control over their own bodies.
- Until 100% effective contraception becomes available and there is no more rape,
abortion services will remain as necessary as ever.
- The controversy that has raged here has also been a forceful reminder of the need for
sabbatical Women's Officers - we have the time to campaign on this and on
other issues of fundamental importance to Women's rights and hopefully to
make a real difference at our universities. Part-time Women's Officers do
a brilliant job, but can't be expected to do all that the role demands and
study at the same time.
Hopefully we will go on to win the referendum and raise awareness among
students at Cambridge about the need for free, safe abortion on request,
as demanded by NAC. Any messages of support that we can publicise would
be gratefully appreciated! Email laura.timms@cusu.cam.ac.uk
The NUS Women's Conference voted to halve their donations to NAC and Escort
(a charity that supports Irish women travelling to Britain for an abortion)
from £1000 to £500.
It was not made clear to delegates that affiliation is not simply a
charitable donation to an organisation whose objectives you support, but
that affiliating to an organisation gets you a stake in that organisation
and the work that it does. It is very important that the NUS Women's Campaign
supports campaigns on reproductive rights. NAC is funded solely through affiliations
and donations. Every penny that they receive counts. Women's Conference should
have considered where its money was most effectively being spent.
A Woman's control of her own fertility and her right to choose free safe abortion
must be a key demand of the women's liberation movement. NAC campaigns to allow
this to become a reality for women. It campaigns against those who seek to illegalise
abortion and deny women the right to control our own fertility.
Newsletter Contents
Broad Left's Aims and objectives
Broad Left's NEC Report 30.6.2000
Education Funding
Fighting Racism
Students and the Peace Movement
Environment and Ethics
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