As Dr. Berry Beaumont, a member of the Steering Committee of the National Abortion Campaign, told Red Weekly: "We've got to say now - loudly and clearly • LIKE BIC evidence still has to be collected, and we should organise a Forum to debate the way forward for the abortion campaign on the basis of the evidence we have collected.
"The so-called democracy which Parliament offers the working class is a sham - this Select Committee has confirmed that much. Now we have to fight for a different kind of democracy - one where, through our own investigations carried out through the trade unions, the Labour Party, and with women leading this action, we can work out a plan to meet the attacks on women's right to abortion. The idea 'Support the 3 April demonstration' - this was the message of Terry Marsland, National Organiser of the Tobacco Workers' Union, when she addressed the TUC Women's Congress in Southport last week. But support for the 3 April demonstration called by NAC, although essential, is not the end of the campaign. The refusal of six MPs to play by the rules of the parliamentary game, in resigning from the Select Committee, has thrown up new tasks.
of a big Forum will be a step in this direction.' To be successful, such a Forum -presently being considered by 16 pro-abortion groups, including the National Union of Students and the Socialist Medical Association - must be well thought out. First, it will entail an intensive campaign within the trade unions and Labour Party to get their support for the action of the MPs in resigning from the Select Committee, and for a commitment to campaign for the Forum.
NOT EASY Although this initiative is in line with the TUC and Labour Party Conference decisions for 'free abortion on request on the NHS, it won't be an easy task. The right wing in these organisations are horrified by the resignation of the MPS, arguing that this 'opens the doors to extraparliamentarianism'. Of course it's these same people who have sabotaged any efforts to implement the TUC and Labour Party resolutions on abortion.
MOBILISE to build the Forum. It will also need the active mobilisation of the workers movement. The MPs who have resigned should be called upon to place themselves at the head of this campaign, rallying support for it. But even if they refuse in the face of the attacks by the right, this action must go ahead.
First, it will be necessary to establish exactly how the 1967 Act is presently being sabotaged. Hospital workers should lead an enquiry into how the cuts in the NHS have affected women's abortion rights, demanding the opening of the books what little was offered them with these pieces of legislation has been more than taken away through the Government's cut-backs!
Women are bearing the brunt of the crisis. and one of the most important functions of the Charter Campaign in the coming period is to show clearly that this is an issue for the whole working class. No section of the working class must be allowed to pay the price for what is the responsibility of the capitalPaper support won't be enough Terry Marsland calling for support for the 3 April abortion demonstration at the Women's TUC last week in order to begin to work out a plan for a health service that caters for the needs of women, as well as of the whole working class. These local way - relying on the independent organisation of the working class -can the Forum become an authoritative body, counterposed to the