Group Takes Legal Action Over Lack of Abortion Services in Northern Ireland

A human rights group says the government’s inaction has left a health care void in a country where the procedure was legalized in 2019, but remains largely unavailable.

By Megan Specia
Jan. 11, 2021

A human rights group in Northern Ireland is taking legal action against the government over its failure to provide abortion access, the group announced on Monday, highlighting the continuing struggle for safe abortions more than a year after the procedure was legalized in the region.

The organization, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, cited deep concerns about a lack of abortion services, which it says has left a health care void for many women and girls.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/world/europe/northern-ireland-abortion.html

Northern Ireland: Abortion services cease at South Eastern Trust following Health Department failure

05 Jan 2021

Amnesty International has learned that Northern Ireland’s South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has stopped referrals to their early medical abortion service as of today (5 January) due to the failure of Department of Health to commission and resource services.

Despite abortion regulations taking effect from March 2020, the Department of Health’s failure to commission services means that health trusts have been left to absorb the costs and resource abortion care themselves, whilst battling through a pandemic.

Continued: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/northern-ireland-abortion-services-cease-south-eastern-trust-following-health

06.01.2021

Featured

News

Amnesty International Northern Ireland

Brandon Lewis

Patrick Corrigan

Robin Swann

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Northern Ireland health chiefs accused over lack of abortion care

Patrick Corrigan, Lisa
Smyth
January 06 2021

Health bosses have been accused of failing more than a third of a million
people amid claims an abortion service has been stopped.

Amnesty International said a failure by the Health Minister to commission
services and provide funding has forced the South Eastern Trust to cease the
provision of vital abortion care.

Continued: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-health-chiefs-accused-over-lack-of-abortion-care-39936938.html

06.01.2021

Featured

News

Amnesty International

Amnesty International Northern Ireland

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

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

Amnesty welcomes Welsh Government commitment to abortion funding for women from Northern Ireland

Amnesty welcomes Welsh Government commitment to abortion funding for women from Northern Ireland

“It is deeply ironic that every government in the UK has now pledged to address the injustice facing women from Northern Ireland, except the failed administration at Stormont” – Patrick Corrigan

Responding to news that the Welsh Government has agreed to fund abortions in Wales for women and girls from Northern Ireland, Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Programme Director, said:

Continued at source: Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/amnesty-welcomes-welsh-government-commitment-abortion-funding-women-northern-ireland

Northern Ireland: Abortion law reform debate put aside in wake of Stormont schism

Published 13/01/2017, Belfast Telegraph

Proposals on reforming Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws will not be considered because of the collapse of power-sharing, a Stormont minister said.

Women cannot seek a termination where there is a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality. Instead some fly to Great Britain for the procedure.

The Assembly is likely to be dissolved on Monday and snap elections called so ministers will not be able to consider any change to the law.

[continued at link]
Source: Belfast Telegraph

13.01.2017

Featured

News

abortion law reform

Amnesty International Northern Ireland

Scotland: 45,000-signature petition to change abortion laws handed in at Stormont

22 November 2016

A petition signed by 45,000 people calling for changes to the current abortion laws in Northern Ireland has been submitted to the Assembly.

A demonstration was held at the steps of Parliament Buildings on Tuesday before Green Party MLA Clare Bailey formally presented Amnesty International’s petition to the Speaker.

It comes just days after Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that she would explore the possibility that women from Northern Ireland could access abortions free of charge through NHS Scotland.

[continued at link]
Source: ITV.com

Scotland could offer Northern Irish women access to free abortions

Nicola Sturgeon says she will consider opening up NHS Scotland facilities to women who are denied right to termination under Stormont’s laws

Henry McDonald, Ireland correspondent, The Guardian

Thursday 17 November 2016

Nicola Sturgeon has told the Scottish parliament that the devolved government would explore the possibility of giving women from Northern Ireland access to abortions in Scotland’s health service free of charge.

Responding to a question from Green party MSP Patrick Harvie on Thursday, the first minister said: “I am happy to explore with the NHS what the situation is now in terms of the ability of women from Northern Ireland to access safe and legal abortion in NHS Scotland and whether any improvements can be made.

[continued at link]

Source: The Guardian

17.11.2016