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Northern Ireland's abortion laws are outmoded and oppressive Northern Ireland's abortion laws are outmoded and oppressive
(4 months later)
My heart rate spiked when I read last week’s High Court ruling forcing Northern Irish women to pay for NHS abortions sought in England. It’s madness – and maddening – that female British citizens living in Northern Ireland still don’t have access to free, safe and legal terminations like their compatriots.My heart rate spiked when I read last week’s High Court ruling forcing Northern Irish women to pay for NHS abortions sought in England. It’s madness – and maddening – that female British citizens living in Northern Ireland still don’t have access to free, safe and legal terminations like their compatriots.
The reiteration of the fact that in Northern Ireland – and the Irish Republic for that matter – women are forced to cross the Irish Sea and head to another country to seek a termination, whether free or paid for, should have us all clamouring once again for the overhaul of medieval abortion laws. The reiteration of the fact that in Northern Ireland – and the Irish Republic for that matter – women are forced to cross the Irish Sea and head to another country to seek a termination, whether free or paid for, should have us all clamouring once again for the overhaul of medieval abortion laws.
In 2012 more than 4,850 Irish and Northern Irish women had to make the tumultuous journey to England or Wales, many of them likely in a state of emotional and physical distress, in pursuit of terminations.In 2012 more than 4,850 Irish and Northern Irish women had to make the tumultuous journey to England or Wales, many of them likely in a state of emotional and physical distress, in pursuit of terminations.
And that’s before you consider the added stress for many women of stumping up the cash – around £900 – for the travel, accommodation and procedure.And that’s before you consider the added stress for many women of stumping up the cash – around £900 – for the travel, accommodation and procedure.
The point is this: whether you agree with the ethics of abortion or not, you cannot stop women having them in modern times – that’s the acknowledgment needed in Northern Ireland.The point is this: whether you agree with the ethics of abortion or not, you cannot stop women having them in modern times – that’s the acknowledgment needed in Northern Ireland.
Once that reality is accepted, it seems a smaller step to the acknowledgement that making an abortion as traumatic and difficult as possible for a woman – forcing her overseas – is simply perverse.Once that reality is accepted, it seems a smaller step to the acknowledgement that making an abortion as traumatic and difficult as possible for a woman – forcing her overseas – is simply perverse.
Only 35 abortions took place in Northern Ireland in 2012. The nation’s draconian ban on abortions, which carries a life sentence for transgressors, permits scarce exceptions. No allowance is made for women carrying babies with fatal foetus abnormalities. Nor do the authorities relent simply because a woman has become pregnant by, say, rape or incest.Only 35 abortions took place in Northern Ireland in 2012. The nation’s draconian ban on abortions, which carries a life sentence for transgressors, permits scarce exceptions. No allowance is made for women carrying babies with fatal foetus abnormalities. Nor do the authorities relent simply because a woman has become pregnant by, say, rape or incest.
Technically the only exceptions are to save a woman’s life, or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. Whether that sounds reasonable or still too illiberal, in reality these so-called exemptions to the rule are granted at a pitifully low rate.Technically the only exceptions are to save a woman’s life, or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health. Whether that sounds reasonable or still too illiberal, in reality these so-called exemptions to the rule are granted at a pitifully low rate.
The British Abortion Act of 1967 was never extended to Northern Ireland; instead the country clings to an archaic 1861 law regarding Offences Against the Person to maintain its current outright ban. It is a crying shame that the issue was never brought up during the Peace Process.The British Abortion Act of 1967 was never extended to Northern Ireland; instead the country clings to an archaic 1861 law regarding Offences Against the Person to maintain its current outright ban. It is a crying shame that the issue was never brought up during the Peace Process.
After all, it is a jarring anomaly that terminations are a fundamental right in one part of the UK and a crime in another. As Genevieve Edwards, director of policy for Marie Stopes UK, has noted, abortion cannot be allowed to continue as a postcode lottery in Britain.After all, it is a jarring anomaly that terminations are a fundamental right in one part of the UK and a crime in another. As Genevieve Edwards, director of policy for Marie Stopes UK, has noted, abortion cannot be allowed to continue as a postcode lottery in Britain.
It seemed telling that the spokesperson offered up for comment on the High Court ruling by the provocatively named Society for the Protection of Unborn Children was a man, Liam Gibson. He even had the temerity to pronounce that the opposite ruling would have been “a bad thing for both women and children.” Thanks for that Liam.It seemed telling that the spokesperson offered up for comment on the High Court ruling by the provocatively named Society for the Protection of Unborn Children was a man, Liam Gibson. He even had the temerity to pronounce that the opposite ruling would have been “a bad thing for both women and children.” Thanks for that Liam.
The national imposition of such outmoded and oppressive laws as those of Northern Ireland on abortion have no place in the modern world, let alone in the UK. The fight now should not simply be about whether Northern Irish women should, as tax-paying UK citizens, be entitled to free abortions if they come to England. It should be about them gaining this fundamental right on home soil.The national imposition of such outmoded and oppressive laws as those of Northern Ireland on abortion have no place in the modern world, let alone in the UK. The fight now should not simply be about whether Northern Irish women should, as tax-paying UK citizens, be entitled to free abortions if they come to England. It should be about them gaining this fundamental right on home soil.