Wednesday June 9, 2010
British Abortion Ads Generate over 1,000 Complaints in First Two Weeks
By Hilary White
LONDON, June 9, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Television spots airing in Britain advertising Marie Stopes International (MSI) abortion facilities have garnered over 1,000 complaints from viewers in their first two weeks. The volume of complaints has prompted the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to agree to investigate whether the ads have violated broadcasting rules.
Channel 4, the independent broadcaster that agreed to run the ads, has received 611 complaints to date, with the ASA receiving 370 more, the Daily Telegraph reports. Channel 4’s statement included a complaint from one viewer: “I just want to say how appalled I am that you have allowed this advert to be shown. Also I can tell you that Channel 4 will not be watched in this house ever again.”
The ASA, however, has already stated that it will only consider the ad’s content, rather than general complaints about the advertisement of abortion services on television.
Three Members of Parliament – Labour’s Jim Dobbin, and Conservative MPs William Cash and Andrew Rosindell – have added their voices to the debate with an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for an investigation. The motion asks MPs to find out if any women have ever chosen not to abort after being counseled by MSI, and how many of their patients are now suffering from post-abortion trauma.
The motion comes in response to Marie Stopes’ claims that the ads are not specifically encouraging pregnant women to have abortions, but only to contact them to discuss “options.” The ad shows images of women alone and asks “Are you late?”
MSI is one of the world’s richest abortionist and most influential population control lobby groups. It was revealed last week that MSI is using the income from abortions in Britain to open more abortion facilities in China.
When it was first announced last year that the ASA would consider allowing ads for abortion and condoms on television, the public responded with an unprecedented 4000 complaints. This prompted the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), the body responsible for the advertising codes, to review its rules.
The Marie Stopes ads went forward, however, due to a loophole that allows not-for-profit organizations to advertise for abortion. Marie Stopes is classified as a charity despite having contracts for abortions from the taxpayer-funded National Health Service that generate £30m a year.
The ads began showing on May 24 and are scheduled to air until the end of June.
To contact Channel 4 Enquiries
PO Box 1058
Belfast
BT 1 9DU
Phone: (44) (0) 845 076 0191
Email via the form page
To contact the Advertising Standards Authority:
Mid City Place,
71 High Holborn,
London,
WC1V 6QT, UK
Phone 020 7492 2222
Textphone 020 7242 8159
Fax 020 7242 3696
Read related LSN coverage:
Protests Mount against UK Abortion Ads as Bishops Condemn
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/may/10052110.html