The Social History of Contemporary Debates: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Abortion Act 1967

This is part of a series of events to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Abortion Act 1967.

The Centre for Law & Social Justice and the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies, University of Leeds, are pleased to host this one day workshop. This is part of a series of events to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Abortion Act 1967 which have been organised and generously supported by the universities of Bristol, Kent and Leeds, BPAS, and the Wellcome Trust.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided

This event is free to attend, but booking is required (register below). 

Programme 

9:30               Registration and Refreshments

10:00             Welcome and Introduction

10:15-11:30     Origins and Early Years

Lesley Hall, Wellcome Trust, 'Getting there: the road to the 1967 Abortion Act'

Sally Sheldon, Kent Law School, ‘The Abortion Act: A Biography’

11:30              Refreshments
 

12:00-13:15     Narratives of Conscience and Disability

Sheelagh Mcguinness, University of Bristol & Michael Thomson, University of Leeds, ‘A Critique of the Jurisdiction of Conscience’ 

Rosamund Scott, King’s College London, ‘Disability and Reproduction: Some Comparative Thoughts on the Regulation of Selective Abortion and PGD
 

13:15-14:00      Lunch
 

14:00-15:15     Space and Place 

Gayle Davis, University of Edinburgh, ‘Wish You Were Here: An Historical Geography of the Abortion Act 1967’

Fiona Bloomer, University of Ulster, ‘50 years of abandonment: the British state and abortion policy in Northern Ireland’
 

15:15-15:45      Refreshments
 

15:45-17:00     Changing experiences and voice 

Jane O’Neill, University of Edinburgh, ‘Before and after the 1967 Abortion Act: The experiences of young unmarried women seeking terminations in Scotland’

Clare Parker, Kent Law School, ‘Fitting the Bill: Abortion Narratives from Pressure Groups and the Press to Parliament’