Humanist Society Interview series: Jill Wood of Engender on decriminalising abortion

January 28, 2026

Reproductive Rights

We are proud to be part of Let’s change the Act, the campaign to fully decriminalise abortion in Scotland. We caught up with Jill Wood, Policy Manager at Engender, the organisation spearheading the campaign, to get the lowdown.

Hi Jill, thanks for speaking to us! As an expert on reproductive rights, can you tell us why we need to decriminalise abortion in Scotland?

This is a law that’s in urgent need of modernisation. The criminalisation of abortion in Scotland is rooted in archaic law. The Abortion Act 1967 reflects the sexism and outdated clinical practices of the 1960s.

Crucially, Scotland is not currently meeting international health standards. The World Health Organisation and all relevant professional health bodies in the UK recommend decriminalising abortion. Scotland’s abortion law is not compliant with global human rights standards. UN human rights treaty bodies have called for the UK to reform its abortion law.

Abortion is crucial for gender equality and women’s rights. Access to safe abortion is essential for rights to privacy, bodily autonomy, safety, financial security, health and other human rights. Marginalised groups and vulnerable individuals are most at risk of harm. Barriers to abortion care, including unnecessary restrictions in the law, are more likely to impact disabled women, younger women, migrant women, women of colour, trans and non-binary people, and those in remote and rural areas.

We know that criminalisation creates stigma. Abortion is treated differently from other forms of healthcare under the law without medical justification, perpetuating stigma that prevents people from accessing routine care. The rise of far-right narratives is a profound threat to abortion rights. Decision-makers in Scotland must strengthen our abortion framework to safeguard reproductive rights for future generations.

A group of protestors in the street holding up reproductive rights placards, including one in the foreground reading "my body my choice".

Anti-abortion groups have mobilised to lobby MSPs with misinformation.

Isn’t abortion already decriminalised in Scotland, though?

No. Women and pregnant people in Scotland currently do not have the legal right to end a pregnancy. Two doctors have to approve any request for an abortion. Other rules set out in the Abortion Act 1967 dictate how, where, why and when abortion can be accessed. This adds needless complexity to routine healthcare, leading to delays and unnecessary barriers.

How can we make decriminalisation a reality?

The Scottish Government recently commissioned a review of abortion law in Scotland, following years of advocacy from abortion rights and women’s equality campaigners. The findings were published in November 2025, recommending decriminalisation and other changes. These are in line with Engender’s policy report, which details legal changes that would improve access to abortion care in Scotland.

Anti-abortion groups have since mobilised to lobby MSPs with misinformation about the expert group’s recommendations. But this doesn’t represent public opinion in Scotland. The overwhelming majority (83-97%) support a woman’s right to choose an abortion.

We can make decriminalisation a reality by demonstrating the support for change to our new elected representatives in the early days of the next Scottish Parliament. It’s vital that we keep up the pressure and ensure that this hard-won progress does not become a casualty of the 2026 Holyrood election.

What can people do if they want to get involved?

Campaign with us! There are lots of Let’s change the Act campaign groups that you can join: for lawyers, health staff, artists, students, trade unionists, and researchers. Or, you can set up a new group.

You can also show your support by signing up to the campaign as an individual or representative of an organisation; come to events, donate, subscribe to the newsletter, share your thoughts with us via the “share our story” section of our website. Or, email your MSP via our website. You can also follow us on Instagram,

If you want to take a more active role, you can challenge anti-abortion misinformation by writing to newspapers and media bodies. And you can share the campaign with friends, colleagues, family and networks that support reproductive rights for all!

Learn more about Let’s change The Act

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