After Roe: Recognising the importance of reproductive rights in England and Wales

Following the US Supreme Court’s controversial reversal of Roe v Wade, aspiring barrister Jade Rae explains the importance of the Abortion Act 1967 in England and Wales

By Jade Rae
Jul 18 2022

The US Supreme Court has just overturned the decision of Roe v Wade, a landmark case regarding abortion rights from over 50 years ago, completely destroying the reproductive rights of people with uteruses in America. With at least 26 States expected to ban abortion immediately, this terrifying reversal will have disastrous effects on the physical and mental health of people expected to carry a foetus. This naturally leads one to reflect on the law surrounding abortion in England and Wales and why it is one of the most important pieces of law to date.

First, without the Abortion Act 1967, abortion still remains a criminal offence. Under section 58 of the Offences Against a Person Act 1861, any woman with child who attempts to procure a miscarriage and any person who aids a woman in an attempt to procure a miscarriage will be guilty of felony and being convicted thereof shall be liable to be kept in penal servitude for life.

Continued: https://www.legalcheek.com/lc-journal-posts/after-roe-recognising-the-importance-of-reproductive-rights-in-england-and-wales/

Decriminalisation of abortion in Nepal: Tabooed yet crucial debate

By BANDANA UPRETI & SAMANA KAFLE
Mar 02, 2021

Abortion should prima facie be decriminalised with certain exceptions (sex selective abortion, harm to mother's body with intent to hurt foetus and others) as a crime. Decriminalisation does not mean deregulation, and the issue of abortion must be treated as a medical procedure, where the well-being of the women is placed at the centre.

Nepal adopted reproductive health rights as a fundamental right for the first time in its interim constitution 2007 (2063 B.S) under article 20(2) 'Rights of Women'. This was carried forward by the new, existing constitution, 'Constitution of Nepal 2015 (2072 B.S)' under Article 38(2). Furthermore, the Supreme Court in the (2067 B.S) case of Laxmi Dhikta vs Nepal Government clearly defined abortion as an integral aspect of reproductive health rights and women's human right and went on to say that "it is contradictory and incompatible that the issue of abortion which has emerged as a new right is still placed under the strict criminal procedure in the Penal Code (2020) under the Chapter on Homicide", and ordered to regulate the issue of abortion by promulgating separate specific legislation.

Continued: https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/decriminalisation-of-abortion-in-nepal-tabooed-yet-crucial-debate

Decriminalising abortion is a long road. Campaigners Vicky Spratt and Diane Munday would know.

Decriminalising abortion is a long road. Campaigners Vicky Spratt and Diane Munday would know.

By Rachel Thompson
Jun 18, 2020

Vicky Spratt and Diane Munday are campaigning to decriminalise abortion in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Diane Munday campaigned to legalise abortion in Britain in the 1960s. Her activism has not only changed women’s lives in this country — but saved them. Along with journalist Vicky Spratt, Munday is fighting for the decrimalisation of abortion in England and Wales. Spratt has also changed the law. Her #MakeRentingFair campaign resulted in the government banning letting agency fees for tenants.

Continued: https://mashable.com/article/vicky-spratt-diane-munday-history-becomes-her/

Campaign launched to abolish old law which means abortion is still technically illegal in England, Scotland and Wales

Campaign launched to abolish old law which means abortion is still technically illegal in England, Scotland and Wales

Bronwen Weatherby
Oct 26, 2019

A campaign has been launched to abolish an old law which means abortion is still technically illegal in England, Scotland and Wales.

In the wake of decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland earlier this week, campaigners say England, Scotland and Wales now have "the most draconian abortion laws in the union".

Continued: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/campaign-launched-to-abolish-old-law-which-means-abortion-is-still-technically-illegal-in-england-a4270946.html

Abortion Still Isn’t Fully Decriminalised In England & Wales — This Campaign Wants To Change That

Abortion Still Isn't Fully Decriminalised In England & Wales — This Campaign Wants To Change That

By Lauren Sharkey
Oct 23, 2019

In a week where one part of the UK is celebrating the introduction of long-awaited-for reproductive rights, the rest are slowly realising they now live in the least progressive parts of the nation. Thanks to a Victorian-era law, abortion is still technically a criminal offence in England and Wales. But a campaign, led by Refinery29 and an 88-year-old campaigner, is aiming to decriminalise it once and for all.

Currently, England and Wales adhere to the 1967 Abortion Act. (Scotland did too until 2016 when powers were handed over to the Scottish Parliament, per the BBC.) This legislation allows abortions up to 24 weeks, but only if two doctors state that continuing with a pregnancy would involve a greater risk to a person's physical or mental health than terminating it.

Continued: https://www.bustle.com/p/abortion-still-isnt-fully-decriminalised-in-england-wales-this-campaign-wants-to-change-that-19261224

BBC’s Action Line adds abortion information, but it’s hard to find

(Two pro-choice letters at link)
BBC’s Action Line adds abortion information, but it’s hard to find
Corporation’s view that procedure is ‘contentious’ is nothing new

Tue 19 Feb 2019

Sadly the BBC’s view that legal abortion is a “contentious” issue is nothing new (BBC under fire over failure to offer abortion information on Action Line, 15 February).

More than a year ago I was invited to take part in a World at One broadcast “to celebrate” 50 years of legal abortion in Britain. During telephone conversations about arrangements, I learned that an anti abortion MP (who recently, in the House of Commons, made the opposition speech during a 10-minute rule bill designed to update the outdated 1967 legislation) was also invited.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/19/bbc-action-line-abortion-hard-to-find-letters

19.02.2019

Birmingham Abortion Rights Group

UK: ‘I ended a pregnancy before the Abortion Act was passed: here’s what I’m fighting for aged 86’

‘I ended a pregnancy before the Abortion Act was passed: here’s what I’m fighting for aged 86’

Katie Grant 17
Monday October 2nd 2017

This month marks 50 years since the 1967 Abortion Act was passed. Diane Munday was instrumental in ensuring the landmark act was pushed through Parliament. Half a century on, she’s determined to ‘finish the job’ she started

Diane Munday was already a mother to three children under the age of four when she learned she had fallen pregnant for the fourth time in as many years.

She knew she wouldn’t be able to cope with another child and that she must end the pregnancy.

Continued at source: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/i-campaigned-abortion-rights-50-years-ago-time-finish-job-i-started/

Veteran women’s rights campaigner Diane Munday recalls the stark reality of backstreet abortions in the UK

Veteran women's rights campaigner Diane Munday recalls the stark reality of backstreet abortions in the UK

What an illegal abortion was like in the 1960s, reveals 86-year-old activist

Veteran women's rights campaigner Diane Munday recalls the stark reality of backstreet abortions in the UK

Kashmira Gander
Thursday 30 March 2017

Diane Munday didn’t know what an abortion was until she was in her early twenties. But the need to quickly and safely terminate a pregnancy became a very personal reality for her when she sought out an abortion in 1961, while it was still illegal in the UK. Six decades later at the age of 86, she has made an indelible mark on British society as a pioneering campaigner for women's rights.

“It was illegal. People were sent to prison for having and carrying out abortions. It was never a word that was said. But having an abortion was a common experience for many. But I didn’t even know what it was to think about it,” she tells The Independent.
Continued at source: The Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/illegal-abortion-1960s-sixties-uk-pro-choice-activist-diane-munday-bpas-a7657726.html