Pro-choice groups raise concerns over possible delays to Northern Ireland abortion law

Pro-choice groups raise concerns over possible delays to Northern Ireland abortion law
No 10’s document suggests it may take up to 18 months to implement legislation

Peter Walker, Political correspondent
Wed 17 Jul 2019

Pressure groups have warned against lengthy delays to extending abortion rights to Northern Ireland following a landmark legal amendment last week, after a government document said the process could take as long as 18 months to implement.

Downing Street has committed to introducing the abortion plan after an amendment to a separate Northern Ireland bill by the Labour MP Stella Creasy was passed overwhelmingly by the Commons.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/17/pro-choice-groups-raise-concerns-over-possible-delays-of-northern-ireland-abortion-law

UK – Abortion clause will not work, says Baroness O’Loan

Abortion clause will not work, says Baroness O'Loan

July 16, 2019

An attempt by MPs to liberalise abortion in Northern Ireland is "not workable" in its current form, Baroness Nuala O'Loan has said.

Last week, MPs voted to change Northern Ireland's abortion law and introduce same-sex marriage if devolution is not restored at Stormont by 21 October.

Baroness O'Loan said MPs had "hijacked" a Northern Ireland bill to push through changes without any consultation.
Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-48987631

16.07.2019

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abortion law reform

Baroness Nuala O'Loan

Conor McGinn

Democratic Unionist Party

The Guardian view on abortion in Northern Ireland: standing up for women’s rights

The Guardian view on abortion in Northern Ireland: standing up for women’s rights
Editorial
With devolution still on hold, the decision by a huge majority of MPs to vote in favour of equal marriage and abortion should be welcomed

Thu 11 Jul 2019

The law on abortion in Northern Ireland is an anomaly that should have been dealt with long ago. The near-total ban, dating back to 1861 and including abortion in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal abnormality, is among the most restrictive in the world. It is also an affront to the rights of women – as both the UK supreme court and a United Nations committee ruled separately last year.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/11/the-guardian-view-on-abortion-in-northern-ireland-standing-up-for-womens-rights

MPs vote to extend abortion and same-sex marriage rights to Northern Ireland

MPs vote to extend abortion and same-sex marriage rights to Northern Ireland
Westminster government has said it will honour both results despite ministerial doubts

Peter Walker, and Rory Carroll in Dublin
Tue 9 Jul 2019

MPs have voted resoundingly to extend same-sex marriage and access to abortion to Northern Ireland, bringing the region into line with the rest of the UK on the two significant social issues.

The two historic votes, arriving within little more than a quarter of an hour of each other, were greeted ecstatically by equalities campaigners. With ministers promising to respect the results, they could have vital repercussions for people in Northern Ireland.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/09/mps-vote-to-extend-same-sex-marriage-to-northern-ireland

Government obliged to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland, says Labour MP

Government obliged to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland, says Labour MP
Stella Creasy backed by 60 cross-party MPs calling for human rights to be upheld

Peter Walker, Political correspondent
Fri 5 Jul 2019

The Labour MP Stella Creasy is leading another attempt to extend access to abortion to Northern Ireland, tabling an amendment arguing that the government is obliged to do this to comply with human rights obligations.

Up to 60 MPs from across different parties were expected to co-sign the amendment, according to the Walthamstow MP, who has tried in the past to change Northern Ireland’s notoriously strict abortion laws.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jul/05/government-obliged-to-legalise-abortion-northern-ireland-labour-mp-stella-creasy

05.07.2019

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1861 Offences against the Person Act

UK abortion law is outdated, not evidence based, and prevents best practice

Hayley Webb: UK abortion law is outdated, not evidence based, and prevents best practice

We must build on the momentum of this year to ensure that women across the UK can truly have governance over their own bodies

October 30, 2018

There is an air of hopeful anticipation within the abortion rights movement. So far, 2018 has brought much cause to celebrate. In March, the 50th anniversary of the implementation of the Abortion Act marked 50 years of safe provision in the UK. Then in May came the landslide vote in favour of repealing the eighth amendment in Ireland. A victory undoubtedly in part due to the collective voice of Irish doctors who came forward in their hundreds to stand up for women, sharing their powerful stories from the frontline and debunking the abundant harmful abortion myths. June and August brought approval for home use of Misoprostol in England and Wales, meaning that women will soon be able to take the second pill for early medical abortion in the comfort of their own homes. This came as a legal challenge to home use in Scotland, which had led the way in 2017, was successfully defended.

Continued: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/10/30/hayley-webb-uk-abortion-law-is-outdated-not-evidence-based-and-prevents-best-practice/

Abortion and same-sex marriage amendments added to Northern Ireland Bill

Abortion and same-sex marriage amendments added to Northern Ireland Bill
Plus move to appoint mediator to resolve power-sharing impasse

By Michael Shiels McNamee
October 29 2018

Amendments which would legalise abortion and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland have been added to a Bill currently making its way through Parliament.

The Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill was introduced earlier this month by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley.

Continued: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/abortion-and-samesex-marriage-amendments-added-to-northern-ireland-bill-37470764.html j

29.10.2018

MPs’ vote calls for explanation of Northern Ireland abortion law

MPs' vote calls for explanation of Northern Ireland abortion law
Westminster votes by 207 to 117 to force Karen Bradley to ‘issue guidance’ on continued enforcement of law

Dan Sabbagh
Wed 24 Oct 2018

A landmark amendment forcing Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, “to issue guidance” to explain how officials can continue to enforce the region’s draconian Victorian-era abortion law was passed by MPs.

MPs in Westminster voted by 207 to 117 to impose their will, a matter normally reserved for Stormont, arguing that the abortion ban was incompatible with human rights on an amendment proposed by Labour’s Stella Creasy and Conor McGinn.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/24/commons-withdraws-amendment-to-legalise-abortion-in-northern-ireland

Labour MPs in fresh bid to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland

Labour MPs in fresh bid to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland
Stella Creasy launches new attempt after government rebuffs move by colleague

Dan Sabbagh
Tue 23 Oct 2018

Eighty MPs have signed an amendment that aims to legalise abortion in Northern Ireland as part of a bill before the Commons on Wednesday designed to give civil servants in the region greater power in the absence of a functioning Stormont.

The amendment, put down by Labour’s Stella Creasy and Conor McGinn, would abolish the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, still applicable in Northern Ireland, which makes obtaining or helping somebody obtain an abortion a criminal offence.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/23/mps-support-new-amendment-to-override-stormont-northern-ireland-on-abortion

Labour MPs to press May for Commons vote on Northern Ireland abortion ban

Labour MPs to press May for Commons vote on Northern Ireland abortion ban
Diana Johnson to table bill aimed at forcing government into allowing proper Commons vote

Dan Sabbagh
Sun 21 Oct 2018

Labour MPs will increase the pressure to end Northern Ireland’s highly restrictive Victorian-era abortion laws this week in a series of Commons votes designed to push the UK government into action.

Diana Johnson, the Hull North MP, will introduce a backbench bill on Tuesday calling for a repeal of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, which criminalised any woman seeking an abortion with a theoretical maximum term of life imprisonment.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/21/northern-ireland-abortion-ban-commons-vote-labour-diana-johnson