Friday, March 27, 2009

Abortion Ads to TV Airwaves in U.K.

The changes come as the U.K. government presses for a 50 percent reduction in the country’s under-18 birth rate by 2010, compared with 1998.

-- From "Abortion Advertising Would Be Allowed on TV Under U.K. Proposal" by David Altaner, Bloomberg 3/26/09

The U.K. is proposing to allow abortion- and pregnancy-counseling advertising on television and radio for the first time as part of its first simultaneous update of broadcast and print advertising codes.

The proposed changes, which would take effect next year, would also loosen restrictions on condom commercials on TV, and impose a new “social responsibility” rule for television and radio, according to the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, which are writing the codes.

Pregnancy advisory groups that oppose abortion would only be allowed to advertise if the ad “makes clear whether the service refers women for abortion,” because “for those women who opt for it, delay in performing an abortion could result in medical complications.”

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.