The Broadcasting Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has proposed liberal advertising of abortion clinics and condoms on both television and radio. Advertising agencies claim that this move is a response to calls from the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV, a quango, to combat rising teenage pregnancy. Family campaigners and MPs, though, have recognised that such advertising will only encourage teenage promiscuity.
This is the first move in allowing both pro and anti-life services to advertise. Currently, only Channel 4 is permitted to advertise condoms from 7pm but under proposed regulations such adverts could be shown before the 9pm watershed to programmes aimed at people above 10 years old. A 12 week consultation which closes on 19 June will oversee public reaction and the new codes are expected to come into force in 2010.
Nadine Dorries, Conservative MP, has identified the lifting of advertising controls as 'obscene'. Church and pro-life groups have also criticized BCAP’s plans. Britain currently has the highest teenage pregnancy rate and sexually transmitted diseases in Europe and although Government spend of £300 million, over 11,000 under-16s were diagnosed with chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhoea, syphilis or genital warts from 2002 to 2006. Dr Peter Saunders, of the Christian Medical Fellowship, commented: "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."
Television is one of the most effective means of communicating with young people. Advertising abortion clinics and condom use will thus act as an unnecessary encouragement to an already growing problem. In 2007 there were 7,715 conceptions among girls between 13 and 15. Half of all pregnancies involving girls under 18 are aborted.
Agencies with a financial interest in promoting abortion will be in a position to buy expensive broadcast advertising, whereas groups which provide objective information about abortion and its impact on women's health will be unlikely to afford to advertise.
These changes will lead to the promotion of abortions when there are better alternatives.
As Christians we have a duty to give voice to the voiceless and protect the sanctity of human life. Please pray for public and Government realization that the proposed advertising of abortion clinics and condoms will only exacerbate a dangerous situation. Godly values must, once again, be at the heart of our nation.
BBC News
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7964826.stm
Daily Mail
Daily Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5052046/Abortion-clinics-o-advertise-on-TV.html
Daily Telegraph (Commentary)
blogs.telegraph.co.uk/edwest/blog/2009/03/26/abortion_on_tv_will_lead_to_more_unwanted_pregnancies
Spectator
The Times
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5977095.ece
Guardian
www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/26/condom-ads-television
CNN International
edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/26/britain.television.advertising.abortion/