Leading voices call for decriminalisation of women ending their own pregnancies

The new proposals would bring English and Welsh law in line with Northern Ireland where abortion was fully decriminalised in 2020, and also countries including France and Canada.

By Mollie Malone, home news correspondent
Sunday 12 January 2025
With Video – 3:19 minutes

More than 30 organisations are urging parliament to remove the threat of criminal investigation and prosecution for women who end their own pregnancies in England and Wales.

A joint statement, signed by leading abortion care providers and institutions including the British Medical Association, Women's Aid, and the Royal College of Gynaecologists, asks politicians to relook at the law to prevent women who are suspected of ending their own pregnancy outside of the legal abortion limits, from being criminally pursued.

Continued: https://news.sky.com/story/leading-voices-call-for-the-decriminalisation-of-women-ending-their-own-pregnancies-13287119


UK – RCN calls for decriminalisation of abortion

Madeleine Anderson
09 Dec 2024

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has called for the decriminalisation of abortion in England, Wales and Scotland.  The union urged abortion to be treated as a health matter, rather than a criminal issue, in a statement issued last week. 

It is currently a criminal offence for women to obtain an abortion without the approval of two doctors, as outlined in the 1967 Abortion Act, in England, Wales and Scotland. 

Continued: https://www.nursinginpractice.com/clinical/womens-health/rcn-calls-for-decriminalisation-of-abortion/


UK: Abortion law in UK is not widely fit for purpose: Study

Dec 25, 2016, India Alive

A UK study shows that among the challenges women seeking abortion face include inequitable access, a lack of trained staff, stigmatisation and a culture of exceptionalism. The law badly needs reform, the study found.

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Source: India Alive