MP says more than 100 NI women denied abortion
AN MP has claimed more than 100 women in Northern Ireland have been refused an abortion with some turning to the internet for pills.
It comes as new Department of Health figures show there were 22 abortions carried out in Northern Ireland during the 12 months to last April.
That was an increase of eight on the previous year’s 14.
Fifteen terminations were carried out on women aged 30 and over, five on a women aged 25 to 29, and two on women aged 24 and under, the figures show. All women were living in Northern Ireland.
Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October 2019 following an intervention from Westminster and during the suspension of power sharing, taking effect the following March.
Labour MP Stella Creasy — who was behind the Westminster move — asked about provision in Northern Ireland giving legal action on access to services in the
Commons yesterday. She asked for the government to intervene and uphold the legislation.
The MP said there was “clear evidence” more than 100 women had been refused abortions and were forced to buy pills online.
Robin Walker, under-secretary at the Northern Ireland Office, said his office had been engaged in providing services with the NI Department of Health.
He said that while that was the best way to progress the matter through the devolved institutions, his government was considering further legislative action through parliament “at the appropriate time should it be required”. He added the situation was being closely monitored and they recognised the urgency of the matter but also the “huge challenges” facing the departments of health in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
DUP MP Carla Lockhart — who opposes abortion — raised concerns the law allowed for “sex-selective” abortion as it could be carried out up to 12 weeks. Mr Walker said the regulations did not reference “sex-selective” abortion and there was no evidence to indicate this was taking place and statistics would continue to be monitored.
Abortion regulations took effect in March 2020. Since then, health trusts have provided an interim early medical abortion service to ensure access whilst services are commissioned.
This service has been facilitated through Informing Choices NI, which acts as the Central Access Point.
However, a legal action has been launched by Northern Ireland’s Human Rights Commission against the UK government, the Executive and Stormont’s over their provision of services.
While women have a legal entitlement to the early medical abortion service, pressures on funding has seen health trusts cease services, or refuse to take on cases from other areas.
Amnesty International has called for Health Minister Robin Swann to commission services and provide adequate funding. He has said it is a “controversial issue” and must be referred to the Executive for consideration.