N. Ireland – Decriminalisation of abortion in North leads to confusion

Decriminalisation of abortion in North leads to confusion
Legislation due by end of March 2020 but the situation in the meantime is uncertain

Oct 22, 2019
Gerry Moriarty, Freya McClements

Abortion was decriminalised from midnight on Monday in Northern Ireland despite a last-ditch attempt by unionist Assembly members to override Westminster legislation.

Women who seek access to abortion in Northern Ireland will not be prosecuted, investigations of illegal abortions will no longer be pursued, and prosecutions currently under way will be halted.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/decriminalisation-of-abortion-in-north-leads-to-confusion-1.4058400

Abortion to be decriminalised in Northern Ireland

Abortion to be decriminalised in Northern Ireland
Much to the chagrin of the DUP, Northern Ireland will be brought into regulatory alignment with the rest of the UK.

Oct 21, 2019

Women in Northern Ireland will have a legal right to safe abortions from midnight local time (23:00 GMT) on Monday, after a last-ditch bid to maintain the illegality of terminations fell apart in the regional legislature.

MPs at Westminster successfully amended a bill in the summer to include measures to end the near-blanket prohibition on abortion and introduce same-sex marriage, bringing Northern Ireland into regulatory alignment with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/abortion-decriminalised-northern-ireland-191021163130462.html

Abortion: NI politicians’ bid to halt law changes fails

Abortion: NI politicians' bid to halt law changes fails

Oct 21, 2019

A last ditch attempt at the Stormont assembly to stop abortion law changes in Northern Ireland has failed, with the law set to change at midnight.

Unionist parties, who oppose the upcoming liberalisation, triggered the assembly's recall with a petition.

But politicians were told the assembly could not do any business until a speaker was elected with cross-community backing.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50115449

N. Ireland – Stormont to be recalled after abortion petition

Stormont to be recalled after abortion petition

17 October 2019

Assembly members are set to return to the Stormont chamber for the first time in nearly three years after 31 members signed a petition triggering a recall.

The move was proposed in a last-ditch attempt to stop the reform of Northern Ireland's abortion law.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-50088406