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Northern Ireland abortion ban endangers women's lives, says UN Northern Ireland abortion ban endangers women's lives, says UN
(about 9 hours later)
The United Nations has denounced Northern Ireland’s ban on most abortions.The United Nations has denounced Northern Ireland’s ban on most abortions.
In a sharply critical report on the province’s abortion policy released on Friday, the UN’s human rights committee said the severe restrictions on terminations were putting Northern Irish women’s lives at risk. In a critical report on the province’s abortion policy released on Friday, the UN’s human rights committee said the severe restrictions on terminations were putting Northern Irish women’s lives at risk.
“The committee is concerned about the highly restricted circumstances in which terminations of pregnancy is permitted under the law in Northern Ireland, and about the severe criminal sanctions for unlawful abortion, thus putting women’s life and health at risk and forcing them to travel in order to seek abortion. “The committee is concerned about the highly restricted circumstances in which terminations of pregnancy is permitted under the law in Northern Ireland, and about the severe criminal sanctions for unlawful abortion, thus putting women’s life and health at risk and forcing them to travel in order to seek abortion,” said the report.
“The committee notes with concern that the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland, after having held a consultation on the possible decriminalisation and legalisation of abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and pregnancy as a result of rape or incest, indicated in April 2015 that it would propose legislation to legalise termination of pregnancy only in circumstances of fatal foetal abnormality due to ‘complex issues’ raised by pregnancy as a result of sexual crimes,” the UN report concluded. “The committee notes with concern that the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland, after having held a consultation on the possible decriminalisation and legalisation of abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality and pregnancy as a result of rape or incest, indicated in April 2015 that it would propose legislation to legalise termination of pregnancy only in circumstances of fatal foetal abnormality due to ‘complex issues’ raised by pregnancy as a result of sexual crimes.”
Amnesty International’s campaign manager in Northern Ireland, Grainne Teggart, said the latest UN report demonstrated the region was a “global embarrassment” in terms of the rights of women and girls.Amnesty International’s campaign manager in Northern Ireland, Grainne Teggart, said the latest UN report demonstrated the region was a “global embarrassment” in terms of the rights of women and girls.
“Women and girls deserve better. Change is long overdue and all eyes are now on the Northern Ireland rxecutive,” Teggart said. “Women and girls deserve better. Change is long overdue and all eyes are now on the Northern Ireland executive,” Teggart said.
An estimated 2,000 women travel to English hospitals and clinics from Northern Ireland every year to have terminations. There is strong opposition to liberalising the province’s strict anti-abortion laws across the floor of the Northern Ireland assembly.An estimated 2,000 women travel to English hospitals and clinics from Northern Ireland every year to have terminations. There is strong opposition to liberalising the province’s strict anti-abortion laws across the floor of the Northern Ireland assembly.
The 1967 Abortion Act was never extended to Northern Ireland and all the main local political parties oppose it.The 1967 Abortion Act was never extended to Northern Ireland and all the main local political parties oppose it.
Earlier this week, more than 200 pro-choice activists picketed one of Belfast’s biggest police stations and challenged officers to arrest them because they admitted to distributing abortion inducing pills, which are illegal in the region. The protest was part of a province-wide action to highlight the case of a woman who procured an abortion pill for her underage daughter who became pregnant. The mother faces prosecution through the local courts system after a member of medical staff at an unnamed hospital reported what she had done to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.Earlier this week, more than 200 pro-choice activists picketed one of Belfast’s biggest police stations and challenged officers to arrest them because they admitted to distributing abortion inducing pills, which are illegal in the region. The protest was part of a province-wide action to highlight the case of a woman who procured an abortion pill for her underage daughter who became pregnant. The mother faces prosecution through the local courts system after a member of medical staff at an unnamed hospital reported what she had done to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
There are also a number of court cases being taken by women who were forced to seek terminations in England including that of Sarah Ewart, whose baby would have been born dead with no functioning brain.There are also a number of court cases being taken by women who were forced to seek terminations in England including that of Sarah Ewart, whose baby would have been born dead with no functioning brain.
Ewart launched her legal action in June in a bid to overturn the near-total ban on abortion. She described the ordeal of being forced to seek a termination in England as a “living nightmare”. Her case is backed both by Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland.Ewart launched her legal action in June in a bid to overturn the near-total ban on abortion. She described the ordeal of being forced to seek a termination in England as a “living nightmare”. Her case is backed both by Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland.