U.K. Court Dismisses Challenge to Northern Ireland Abortion Law

U.K. Court Dismisses Challenge to Northern Ireland Abortion Law

By Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura and Richard Pérez-Peña
June 7, 2018

LONDON — Britain’s Supreme Court on Thursday struck down an attempt to overturn Northern Ireland’s restrictive laws on abortion over a legal technicality, barely two weeks after Ireland voted in a landslide to do away with similar rules.

But in an important caveat, Justice Brenda M. Hale, president of the court, said that a majority of the justices “are of the firm and clear opinion that the current law is incompatible with” the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Britain is a party.

Continued; https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/07/world/europe/uk-northern-ireland-abortion.html


Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal termination pills in front of police

Northern Irish women protesting anti-abortion laws take illegal termination pills in front of police

Alex Matthews, King Health Correspondent
May 31, 2018

Women protesting Northern Ireland's "medieval" anti-abortion laws have taken illegal termination pills in front of police outside Belfast's main court buildings.

Officers seized the pills and attempted to remove one woman who openly took a tablet which was delivered to protestors by a tiny robot controlled from the Netherlands to circumvent the country's laws.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/northern-ireland-abortion-protest-laws-women-pills-police-belfast-a8377506.html


Taking abortion pills distributed at Belfast pro-choice rally may lead to arrest, warn police

Taking abortion pills distributed at Belfast pro-choice rally may lead to arrest, warn police

By Victoria Leonard
May 31 2018

Pregnant women who take abortion pills delivered by a pro-choice organisation’s ‘abortion robot’ outside a Belfast courthouse this afternoon could face charges, the PSNI has warned.

The robot will be on the so-called Bus4Choice run by social feminist organisation Rosa NI with the support of web-based abortion pills provider Women on Web and Women on Waves.

Continued: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/taking-abortion-pills-distributed-at-belfast-prochoice-rally-may-lead-to-arrest-warn-police-36963415.html


Women defy authorities by taking abortion pills in Belfast

Women defy authorities by taking abortion pills in Belfast
PSNI tried to remove one of the pro-choice activists but gave up after stand-off

May 31, 2018

Pro-choice campaigners have taken abortion pills outside Northern Ireland’s main court buildings in defiance of the strict laws governing terminations.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where the procedure is not legal, aside from exceptional cases, and the Republic has voted to allow it in early pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/women-defy-authorities-by-taking-abortion-pills-in-belfast-1.3515120


DUP says it will not be ‘bullied’ into changing abortion stance

DUP says it will not be ‘bullied’ into changing abortion stance
PSNI reviewing protest footage to determine whether any offences have been committed

May 31, 2018
Amanda Ferguson

The DUP has said Northern Ireland will not be “bullied or bounced” into changing its abortion laws after feminist activists swallowed abortion pills outside Laganside courts in Belfast.

Anti-abortion South Down MLA Jim Wells was speaking on Thursday outside the North’s main court buildings after three pro-choice campaigners took abortion pills in front of the PSNI in defiance of the strict laws governing terminations.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/dup-says-it-will-not-be-bullied-into-changing-abortion-stance-1.3515508


Abortion Robots will deliver abortion pills in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Abortion Robots will deliver abortion pills in Belfast, Northern Ireland

May 30, 2018

Abortion robots will deliver abortion pills to women in Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 31 st. With the robot the abortion pills can be supplied to women Northern Ireland without breaking the law because the robot is operated from the Netherlands. A few days ago Ireland has voted to legalise abortion. Northern Ireland cannot continue to violate women's rights.

The action is a collaboration between Women on Waves, Women on Web and ROSA Northern Ireland to call attention to the restrictive abortion laws and the prosecution of women in Northern Ireland.

Continued: https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/7085/abortion-robots-will-deliver-abortion-pills-in-belfast--northern-ireland