Henry Morgentaler said his fight to give women access to abortion has helped make society a safer place as he received a controversial honorary degree Thursday.

"By fighting for reproductive freedom, and making it possible, I have made a contribution to a safer and more caring society where people have a greater opportunity to realize their full potential," he said, shortly after receiving his honorary doctor of law degree from the University of Western Ontario in London.

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Henry Morgentaler at the University of Western Ontario in London, Thursday.

"Well-loved children grow into adults who do not build concentration camps, do not rape and do not murder," said Morgentaler, 82, who himself survived a Nazi death camp.

He claimed that violent crime has decreased since 1991, a trend he attributed to more abortion procedures being made available.

"The most important factor is that there are fewer unwanted children, fewer children likely to be abused, brutalized or neglected ... children so victimized they may grow up for a thirst for vengeance which seeks an outlet in violence," he said.

Demonstrators gathered outside the university behind barriers.

Morgentaler went through four jury trials and spent 10 months in jail for providing abortions. The Supreme Court of Canada struck down the country's law in 1988.

He told the graduates that he did not advocate civil disobedience, but he urged them to stand up for their rights.

"You are the younger generation, you can change what's going on in Canada through your political influence," he said.

University officials had beefed up security for the ceremony after the decision to award Morgentaler an honorary degree sparked controversy at the school.

About 500 demonstrators gathered outside the university to protest the school's decision. Some people withdrew their donations to the university, including one bequest for $2 million.

More than 12,000 people signed a petition that called on the school to change its mind and not give Morgentaler the honour. But 10,000 other people signed a petition in support of the university's decision.

Don McDougall, chair of the university's board of governors, criticized the way the decision was made to award Morgentaler the degree, saying it was reached through a "breach of customary protocol" and that "the process was corrupted."

One of the members on the selection committee resigned in protest over the way Morgentaler was selected.

But the senate honorary degrees committee denied the charges. In a letter, the committee said he was "elected for an honorary degree by a process that was fair, open and reflected normal practice."