NORTHERN IRELAND

Official consents to abortion becoming legal

After a week of mounting legal pressure, Northern Ireland’s Department of Health authorized abortion services in the region late Thursday, putting into force legislation that overturns one of the world’s most restrictive abortion laws. Last month, abortion rights were extended to Northern Ireland for pregnancies up to 12 weeks, but the introduction of services was delayed by the health minister, Robin Swann, who has been accused of using the coronavirus outbreak to stall the process because of his ideological objections.

Abortion is one of the most contentious issues in Northern Irish politics. The legislation legalizing abortion was passed by the British Parliament after the collapse of the region’s power-sharing government. The regional government was restored in January and has been torn by the abortion issue ever since. Before the laws went into effect Thursday, women seeking free abortions in Northern Ireland had to travel to England. (Abortion services are available in the Republic of Ireland, but the cost of $500 is prohibitive for many women. Outraged by the situation, women’s rights groups threatened the region’s health authorities with action in the courts. After receiving legal advice, the Department of Health said Thursday that it would authorize medical professionals in hospitals and clinics to provide services.

“The confirmation we have received today means that Northern Ireland Health Trusts will now provide early medical abortion in Northern Ireland,” Emma Campbell, co-chairwoman of the Northern Irish reproductive rights group Alliance for Choice, said in a statement Friday. “This will prevent hundreds of women and pregnant people from having to travel needlessly to clinics in England placing themselves at risk.”