The first TV advertising by a sexual health charity which offers abortion among its other clinical and advice services is being aired tonight. The charity, Marie Stopes, says that advertising will “empower women to reach confident, informed decisions about their sexual health”. Anti-abortion group Life called it “grotesque”.

“Many will be surprised that only now will the first advert be broadcast on television to give women information about options they have following an unwanted pregnancy,” said Naomi Phillips, the head of public affairs at the British Humanist Association.

“It is vital that women with unintended and unwanted pregnancies are able to access, in a timely way, accurate, objective information about all of the options open to them. It seems that television advertising could be an effective way of reaching thousands of such women, and is to be welcomed.”

The launch of the ad follows the introduction of new advertising rules by the Advertising Standards Authority.

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/may/24/marie-stopes-abortion-services-ad