The Long Road Ahead For Abortion & Same-Sex Marriage In Northern Ireland

The Long Road Ahead For Abortion & Same-Sex Marriage In Northern Ireland

Emma Gallen, Alliance For Choice
10 July 2019

Last year, when the results of Ireland’s big referenda on same-sex marriage and abortion rights came, people knew what was coming. There had been a build up, and they were ready to celebrate (or commiserate) surrounded by those they had campaigned alongside for decades.

By contrast, last night in Northern Ireland, after MPs in Westminster surprised us all by actually voting in favour of liberalising abortion and extending same-sex marriage to us if our executive – Stormont – isn’t sitting by 21st October (ICYMI they’ve been on hiatus since January 2017), festivities were a bit more last minute.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/07/237483/abortion-rights-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

Mordaunt targets ‘appalling’ Northern Ireland abortion laws

Mordaunt targets ‘appalling’ Northern Ireland abortion laws
Equalities minister calls for government to act after Tory rivals rule out reform

Matthew Weaver and Henry McDonald
Wed 3 Jul 2019

The women and equalities minister, Penny Mordaunt, has signalled her determination to change the “appalling” abortion laws in Northern Ireland a day after the two Conservative leadership rivals ruled out reform on the issue.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt were accused of pandering to religious fundamentalists in the Democratic Unionist party by claiming that abortion rights were a matter for the devolved assembly if power sharing was restored.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/03/penny-mordaunt-targets-appalling-northern-ireland-abortion-laws

Jeremy Hunt Told Us He “Authorised” The Funding Of Abortions For Northern Irish Women. Campaigners Beg To Disagree.

Jeremy Hunt Told Us He "Authorised" The Funding Of Abortions For Northern Irish Women. Campaigners Beg To Disagree.
The government only agreed to fund abortions for women from Northern Ireland after Hunt opposed a legal challenge by a mother and daughter seeking NHS funding for abortions for Northern Irish women.

June 18, 2019
Hannah Al-Othman, BuzzFeed News Reporter

Tory leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt has been criticised by abortion rights campaigners for claiming credit for the funding the government provides for women in Northern Ireland to travel to England to get abortions.

At a hustings event in Westminster on Monday, BuzzFeed News asked Hunt whether, if he became prime minister, he would extend abortion rights to women in Northern Ireland, where it is currently illegal in most circumstances, including cases of rape, incest, and fatal foetal abnormalities.

Continued: https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahalothman/jeremy-hunt-told-us-he-authorised-the-funding-of-abortions

18.06.2019

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

Government Equalities Office

Penny Mordaunt says UK will defend abortion rights amid global pushback

Penny Mordaunt says UK will defend abortion rights amid global pushback
Development secretary vows government will ‘hold a strong line’, after attempts by Trump administration to weaken commitments

Liz Ford
Tue 9 Apr 2019

Britain’s international development secretary has promised to stand firm in her support for abortion rights in the face of growing opposition.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Canadian embassy on Monday, Penny Mordaunt said: “Leadership means not shying away from issues like safe abortion when the evidence shows us these services will save women’s lives.”

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/apr/09/penny-mordaunt-says-uk-will-defend-abortion-rights-amid-global-pushback-trump

UK intervention on global abortion rights ‘welcome’ but urgent need for Northern Ireland law reform remains

UK intervention on global abortion rights 'welcome' but urgent need for Northern Ireland law reform remains

April 9, 2019

Responding to a speech by International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt at an event hosted by the Canadian High Commission yesterday, Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Campaign Manager, said:

“We very much welcome the Development Secretary championing abortion rights on a global scale and speaking out in support of women’s right to freedom and choice over their own bodies. The roll-back on reproductive rights in some places around the world is deeply concerning and must be addressed.

Continued: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-intervention-global-abortion-rights-welcome-urgent-need-northern-ireland-law

09.04.2019

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BBC provides abortion information after Call the Midwife row

BBC provides abortion information after Call the Midwife row
BBC had said it could not offer advice because abortion was a ‘contentious’ issue

Catherine Avery
Sun 17 Feb 2019

The BBC has said it will give viewers information about abortion after it was criticised following an episode of the popular drama Call the Midwife.

Women complained that no information was provided on the BBC Action Line after an episode, broadcast this month, in which a patient died following an illegal backstreet abortion.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/17/bbc-provides-abortion-information-after-call-the-midwife-row

BBC drops ban on giving abortion advice after Call the Midwife row

BBC drops ban on giving abortion advice after Call the Midwife row

Caroline Wheeler and Nicholas Hellen
February 17 2019

The BBC has bowed to pressure to provide viewers with information about abortion after two ministers intervened in a row sparked by an episode of the drama series Call the Midwife.

Penny Mordaunt, the women and equalities minister, and Jackie Doyle-Price, a health minister, wrote to the BBC to complain about its initial refusal to provide information about terminations after the February 3 episode in which a character died after a backstreet abortion.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/bbc-drops-ban-on-giving-abortion-advice-after-call-the-midwife-row-hv9d5zd73

Northern Ireland abortion: MPs pass bill demanding terminations legalised

Northern Ireland abortion: MPs pass bill demanding terminations legalised
Ministers including Penny Mordaunt back calls for change, raising prospect of major Cabinet row

Benjamin Kentish
Oct 23, 2018

MPs have voted in favour of legalising abortion in Northern Ireland after a number of Tory ministers broke ranks to back demands for change, creating a potential headache for Theresa May.

The House of Commons voted by 208 votes to 123 in favour of a bill introduced by Labour MP Diana Johnson that seeks to scrap 157-year-old laws that make the practice illegal.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/abortion-northern-ireland-legalisation-mps-vote-bill-repeal-assembly-diana-johnson-a8597541.html

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