Women’s Voice are hosting a film screening and discussion about women’s reproductive rights.
What’s happening to women’s reproductive rights?
On Tuesday 13 May, intersectional women’s group Women’s Voice will host an evening of film and discussion about how the shift to the right in the United States has affected women’s say over their reproductive choices – and how women’s rights in the UK are also being threatened. Erica Smith encourages you to join this vital discussion.
Abortion access in the US is under siege. In 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping away the constitutional right to abortion. Now, 19 states have banned abortion outright, and seven more impose harsh restrictions – putting millions of women at risk.
What does that actually mean for those affected? Women’s Voice is screening the 2024 film Zurawski v. Texas, a compelling documentary that follows a group of women in Texas who were denied abortion care. Teaming up with a fearless attorney, they take the state to court—sharing harrowing personal stories that expose the human cost of restrictive laws. You can watch the trailer here:
You may think that women’s reproductive rights in the UK are protected – but a British woman is currently being tried for illegal abortion – her sentence is due on Thursday 8 May. The trial heard that Nicola Packer, 45, took medicine at home to induce a miscarriage on 6 November 2020, when she was about 26 weeks pregnant. The outer limit for abortions in England, Scotland and Wales is 24 weeks. When Nicola took the drugs she did not believe she was more than ten weeks pregnant – the legal time limit for at-home terminations. (BBC News).
After the film there will be a discussion with Dr Bethan Harris of Doctors for Choice on the state of abortion access in the UK and the growing movement to decriminalise it.
The event is on Tuesday 13 May. Doors at 5.30pm, film at 6pm, followed by Q&A. The venue is Central Hall, 6 Bank Buildings, Station Road, Hastings TN34 1NG. Central Hall is located between Subway and PhoneTech. It is fully wheelchair accessible. Tea and coffee will be provided, you are welcome to bring your own snacks. All welcome.
Tickets on a sliding scale: £3 / £10 / £15 – choose what you can afford.
You can buy your tickets in advance from TicketSource. If you need support to attend the event, email hello@womensvoice.org.uk
You can find out more about Women’s Voice by visiting womensvoice.org.uk
Please note: The film includes themes of forced pregnancy, miscarriage, medical trauma, and baby loss. Central Hall is on the ground floor and fully accessible.
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