Post by Paddy by Grace on Mar 27, 2009 19:31:40 GMT -7
As teenage pregnancies soar, the Government's answer... abortion ads on television
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164901/Government-plan-allow-abortion-condom-ads-television-year-olds.html
Abortion clinics are to be allowed to advertise on television and radio for the first time.
Condom manufacturers will also be permitted to broadcast advertisements at any time of the day or night.
At present they are banned from advertising before the 9pm watershed except on Channel 4, where the cut-off is 7.30pm.
The proposals by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) will give Britain among the world's most liberal broadcasting regimes on sexual health services.
The watchdog claims it is responding to Government calls for action to combat rising teenage pregnancy.
But its plans were furiously condemned last night by family campaigners and MPs.
They said television adverts for abortion clinics and condoms will lead to greater promiscuity among young people.
Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'The problem is that the Government strategy on teenage pregnancy, based on condoms, the morning-after pill and abortion, has failed.
'Allowing the advertising of abortion services is not dealing with the real problem. This is the approach of having the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff to deal with the casualties.
'The whole approach from Government and officialdom creates an atmosphere where it is seen as acceptable for teenagers to indulge in recreational sex without regard to the very serious consequences in terms of physical and emotional health.'
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) and their sister organisation the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) are starting a 12-week public consultation into the proposals today.
But it is clear it hopes to implement the changes early next year to fall in line with the policy of the Government and its advisers.
Its spokesman Matt Wilson said advertising by abortion clinics would have to be 'socially responsible'. However, it is not yet known how this would be enforced.
Advertising for condoms will not be allowed during breaks in programmes designed for children aged under ten.
Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, said the lifting of advertising controls was 'obscene'
He said the proposal to allow greater freedom to advertise condoms was taken in response to calls from the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, a Government quango.
'There is a concern about spiralling teenage pregnancy rates and sexually transmitted infections in the UK,' he said.
'The IAG group wrote to us to request a review of the scheduling restrictions on advertising condoms and we took their views into account.
'We have taken advice from a wide range of organisations to draw up the proposals before going for public consultation.'
But Phyllis Bowman, of the anti-abortion Right to Life group, complained there are very strict rules preventing organisations like hers running their own campaigns.
'These new rules look as if they have been drawn up by the pro-abortionists,' she said.
'These clinics should not be allowed to advertise on television. In my view the changes will lead to the promotion of abortions when there are better alternatives.'
The Conservative MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorries, described the lifting of the advertising controls as 'insane'.
Mrs Dorries, who is leading calls for a cut in the upper limit for so-called 'social' abortions from 24 weeks to 20, said: 'The very last thing we want to see is advertisements for abortion services in the middle of a break for a programme like This Morning.'
However, the Brook Advisory Centres, which provide advice on a range of issues, including contraception and abortion, welcomed the changes to the rules.
Its head of communications, Jules Hillier, said: 'I think it is a step forward for sexual health services to be able to advertise and clearly state what they do. It can be very confusing for a woman if she doesn't know which organisation will refer her for an abortion.'
Labour has spent £300million on trying to reduce teenage pregnancy by handing out contraception and expanding sex education.
However, pregnancies among girls under the age of 16 have now reached their highest level in a decade, according to official figures released last month.
In 2007 there were 7,715 conceptions among girls between 13 and 15. Half of all pregnancies involving girls under 18 end in abortion.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164901/Government-plan-allow-abortion-condom-ads-television-year-olds.html
Abortion clinics are to be allowed to advertise on television and radio for the first time.
Condom manufacturers will also be permitted to broadcast advertisements at any time of the day or night.
At present they are banned from advertising before the 9pm watershed except on Channel 4, where the cut-off is 7.30pm.
The proposals by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) will give Britain among the world's most liberal broadcasting regimes on sexual health services.
The watchdog claims it is responding to Government calls for action to combat rising teenage pregnancy.
But its plans were furiously condemned last night by family campaigners and MPs.
They said television adverts for abortion clinics and condoms will lead to greater promiscuity among young people.
Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said: 'The problem is that the Government strategy on teenage pregnancy, based on condoms, the morning-after pill and abortion, has failed.
'Allowing the advertising of abortion services is not dealing with the real problem. This is the approach of having the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff to deal with the casualties.
'The whole approach from Government and officialdom creates an atmosphere where it is seen as acceptable for teenagers to indulge in recreational sex without regard to the very serious consequences in terms of physical and emotional health.'
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) and their sister organisation the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) are starting a 12-week public consultation into the proposals today.
But it is clear it hopes to implement the changes early next year to fall in line with the policy of the Government and its advisers.
Its spokesman Matt Wilson said advertising by abortion clinics would have to be 'socially responsible'. However, it is not yet known how this would be enforced.
Advertising for condoms will not be allowed during breaks in programmes designed for children aged under ten.
Nadine Dorries, Tory MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, said the lifting of advertising controls was 'obscene'
He said the proposal to allow greater freedom to advertise condoms was taken in response to calls from the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, a Government quango.
'There is a concern about spiralling teenage pregnancy rates and sexually transmitted infections in the UK,' he said.
'The IAG group wrote to us to request a review of the scheduling restrictions on advertising condoms and we took their views into account.
'We have taken advice from a wide range of organisations to draw up the proposals before going for public consultation.'
But Phyllis Bowman, of the anti-abortion Right to Life group, complained there are very strict rules preventing organisations like hers running their own campaigns.
'These new rules look as if they have been drawn up by the pro-abortionists,' she said.
'These clinics should not be allowed to advertise on television. In my view the changes will lead to the promotion of abortions when there are better alternatives.'
The Conservative MP for Mid-Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorries, described the lifting of the advertising controls as 'insane'.
Mrs Dorries, who is leading calls for a cut in the upper limit for so-called 'social' abortions from 24 weeks to 20, said: 'The very last thing we want to see is advertisements for abortion services in the middle of a break for a programme like This Morning.'
However, the Brook Advisory Centres, which provide advice on a range of issues, including contraception and abortion, welcomed the changes to the rules.
Its head of communications, Jules Hillier, said: 'I think it is a step forward for sexual health services to be able to advertise and clearly state what they do. It can be very confusing for a woman if she doesn't know which organisation will refer her for an abortion.'
Labour has spent £300million on trying to reduce teenage pregnancy by handing out contraception and expanding sex education.
However, pregnancies among girls under the age of 16 have now reached their highest level in a decade, according to official figures released last month.
In 2007 there were 7,715 conceptions among girls between 13 and 15. Half of all pregnancies involving girls under 18 end in abortion.