A safe access zone (SAZ) is a form of legal protection of access to abortion and is a specified distance around a reproductive healthcare clinic or service in which anti-abortion picketers cannot demonstrate, stand or communicate with patients and/or staff that enter and exit the reproductive facility.
This helps to prevent pregnant girls and women that are seeking abortion services from being intimidated and harassed by anti-abortion picketers.
In most states in Australia, safe access zones are an area of 150 metres (492 feet) around the entire reproductive health facility.
As of 12 August 2021[update],[1] all states and territories in Australia have safe access zones in place.
[3] As of 2024, every nation of the United Kingdom had implemented them, following votes in 2023 (Northern Ireland and England and Wales), and Scotland (2024).