Governments sometimes create legislation to limit and guard abortion facilities. The creation of an area around an abortion facility can be known as a “buffer zone,” “bubble zone,” “safe access zone” or “access zone.” The area can limit how close to facilities those pro-life can approach. A plethora of restrictions, draconian laws, and judgments stifle pro-life speech. Countries that have introduced such legislation include Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and Canada.

Citizens around the world are seeing their freedom of speech stripped away as new laws and prohibitions crackdown on the most innocuous forms of pro-life witness. From handing out leaflets to sharing opinions on abortion, to wearing pro-life t-shirts, pro-lifers have found themselves squarely in Big Brother’s crosshairs.

In the United Kingdom, buffer zones were introduced in 2023 and 2024, and they were 150 meters nationwide (200 meters in Scotland). In Spain, there is not a legally defined perimeter but some laws have been introduced with regards to accessing abortion. In Ireland, an act of 2024 introduced a buffer zone law of 100 meters.

Provinces and territories in Canada have also introduced buffer zones in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta and also by local government. In New Zealand, a law of 2022 means a “safe access zone” can be created outside an abortion facility. In South Africa, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act prohibits anyone from obstructing access to a facility for the termination of pregnancy. Australia also has buffer zone laws introduced in its provinces.

In the United States, the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act) prevents intimidation and forming a blockade against entering an abortion center and local states have in place their versions of the FACE Act. Many buffer zone laws in America have been struck down in the courts.

Buffer zone laws vary in terms of distance, penalties, automatic protection, and activities prohibited in the zone. In Canada, some buffer zones are 50 meters, in Australia and New Zealand are around 150 meters and in Ireland 100 meters in the United Kingdom 150 meters. Penalties vary from a 500-pound fine in Northern Ireland to incremental fines in the Republic of Ireland, to 10,000 AUD in Australia, and a potentially unlimited fine in the United Kingdom.

Some of the laws mean that abortion centers are automatically protected (such as England and Wales, most of Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Colorado, and Montana), whereas other places (New Zealand, Northern Ireland, British Columbia) “safe areas” are created by further regulations or an application.

Activities prohibited within each zone are also articulated differently in each country. In England or Wales, any act influencing another person is banned. Australia uses the language of harassing, intimidating, threatening, or obstructing, whereas most of Canada includes advising or persuading as banned. The Republic of Ireland also uses the language of influencing the decision of another person as banned.

Buffer zones shut down help where it is needed the most. Hundreds of women are helped outside of abortion facilities as it is the last possible point of help.

Censorship zones are draconian because they criminalize activities that are otherwise legal, violating minimal criminalization. Criminal sanctions should not be directed towards unpopular opinions. Buffer zones also violate well-established international human rights such as freedom of speech, assembly, conscience, practice of religion, liberty, and information. These are fundamental aspects of a healthy functioning democracy.

Censorship poisons democracy by preventing the free assembly of citizens and ideas. Many countries already have existing powers and laws to protect against genuine harassment. The media has been flooded with misleading words and phrases such as harassment to vilify pro-life activism.

The introduction of buffer zones sets a precedent where a pressure group can censor a minority group they disagree with: this is mob rule creating demonization without justification. It is bad for civil society and politics.

We should not be prevented from communicating just because someone does not like our statements. If we don’t stand up to these violations of our basic rights to practice our faith, governments will systematically legislate, not just what we say, but what we believe.

There are a whole variety of things that you can do to oppose buffer zones. You can witness publicly: this is your chance to make a stand and share your witness and faith with others. You can have pro-life activists present to political leaders. You can organize a campaign against buffer zones such as the Be Here for Me campaign. You can start a legal challenge against a buffer zone law. Some individuals may choose in their conscience to oppose unjust laws. You can also get prominent media coverage and continue to pray.

40 Days for Life participants from Perth, Australia to London, England have reported beautiful stories of lives saved even when a vigil is required by law to take place some distance away from the abortion facility.

Thankfully, God is not restricted by buffer zones. God’s love transcends our human thinking and boundaries. In the end, our witness to His love wins over hearts. As G. K. Chesterton says, “Exactly at the moment when hope ceases to be reasonable, it begins to be useful.”