Voice for Choice calls for a modern abortion law

Posted on October 14, 2008

The 1967 Abortion Act, which came into effect 40 years ago this year, has never been significantly updated. It desperately needs modernising in a number of important ways, in line with best clinical practice in Britain, other European countries, the United States and the World Health Organisation safe abortion guidance. Moreover, society’s concern for basic human rights and equality for all UK citizens demands an end to 40 years of discrimination and inequity, which can be rectified by extending the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill offers the first opportunity since 1990 to bring the 1967 Abortion Act into line with good medical practice and to rectify the long-standing injustice relating to the health needs of women in Northern Ireland. Many MPs who had concerns about the upper time limit have stated that they nevertheless believe that if abortions are going to take place they should take place as early as possible in gestation.

On 22nd October, when the HFE Bill reaches Report Stage, MPs will have the opportunity to improve women’s reproductive healthcare in Britain for decades to come. MPs from the three main parties have tabled amendments to modernise the 1967 Abortion Act in England, Wales and Scotland, in line with government sexual health policies, which aim to provide medical care closer to home, with greater patient choice.

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MPs seek equal access to abortion for women in Northern Ireland

Posted on July 23, 2008

Today a cross-party group of MPs have tabled an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill intending to give women in Northern Ireland- for the first time- the right to fair and rapid access to safe, legal abortion care when they need it.

Currently Northern Irish women are the only women in the UK who do not have access to safe abortion and are denied the NHS treatment and funding for abortion permitted to other UK women. Northern Ireland is not covered by the 1967 Abortion Act.

Download our press release of 23 July 2008, on the amendment to extend the 1967 Act to Northern Ireland.

VfC calls on MPs to amend the 1967 Abortion Act

Posted on July 9, 2008

In 1990, the 1967 Abortion Act was amended to reduce the legal time limit for abortion from 28 to 24 weeks through an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 1990. Following 18 years of scientific and technical research, and developments in clinical practice, the HFE Act 1990 is being modernised through the HFE Bill 2008.

The 1967 Abortion Act, which came into effect 40 years ago this year, has never been significantly updated. It needs modernising in a number of important ways and it needs to be extended to Northern Ireland.

Download our briefing for MPs (PDF, 140Kb), who will be debating amendments to the 1967 Act in the autumn, as part of the HFE Bill, date to be announced when Parliament returns.

Why some women need later abortion

Posted on April 17, 2008

Access to safe, legal abortion is a crucial issue for women. There is no completely effective contraceptive method and world wide, in countries where abortion is criminalised, tens of thousands of women die every year as a consequence of unsafe abortion. The right to have an abortion is consistently well supported in Britain. Polls show that more than three quarters – 76 per cent of those polled – support a woman’s right to have an abortion ¹.

Much of the recent political and media debate on abortion has been sensationalist, ill informed and misleading – painting a distorted picture of abortion access and services in Britain and eclipsing women and their real circumstances from the picture.

Anti-abortionists have tried to create confusion on time limits, because their aim of banning all abortions has very little support. Voice for choice has produced this briefing paper to provide evidence-based information on the issues under discussion.

Download the Briefing Sheet (PDF)

Celebrating 40 years of legal abortion

Posted on April 17, 2008

Now it’s time to let women decide

Voice For Choice member organisations will be organising a series of events throughout the year to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Download our Fact Sheet to find out more