{"id":48350,"date":"2024-05-03T09:50:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T08:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=48350"},"modified":"2024-05-28T11:58:52","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T10:58:52","slug":"date-set-for-uk-parliaments-biggest-decision-on-abortion-law-for-a-generation-15-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/uk-debate-abortion-law","title":{"rendered":"Date set for UK parliament\u2019s \u201cbiggest decision on abortion law for a generation\u201d &#8211; 15 May\u202f\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"48350\" class=\"elementor elementor-48350\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5ca0482d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5ca0482d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-53cd8eaf\" data-id=\"53cd8eaf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4873e029 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4873e029\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Parliament to vote on abortion-related amendments in the criminal justice bill which would change the UK abortion law for the first time in over 50 years<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:1080,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><b style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Proposed amendment would in-effect decriminalise abortions up-to-birth<\/span><\/b><\/li><li><b style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alternative amendment would lower the abortion gestational limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks<\/span><\/b><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:1080,&quot;335559731&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc898d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"dc898d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"729\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bigstock-Image-of-newborn-baby-like-D-28624754-1-1024x729.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48351\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bigstock-Image-of-newborn-baby-like-D-28624754-1-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bigstock-Image-of-newborn-baby-like-D-28624754-1-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bigstock-Image-of-newborn-baby-like-D-28624754-1-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bigstock-Image-of-newborn-baby-like-D-28624754-1-1536x1093.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/bigstock-Image-of-newborn-baby-like-D-28624754-1-2048x1457.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6479a747 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6479a747\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">LONDON (3<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0May 2024) <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8211; Members of Parliament will have the opportunity to change the UK\u2019s abortion law this month for the first time in 56 years. \u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill will be voted on 15<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> May, announced Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, yesterday. Several amendments have been tabled regarding abortion. \u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The UK\u2019s current law, in effect, allows abortion to be widely accessed until 24 weeks (almost 6 months). The law further allows abortion up to birth under only three circumstances: namely, if the mother\u2019s life is at risk, or if she is at risk of grave physical or mental injury, or if the baby has any disability (including Down Syndrome, cleft lip, and clubbed foot).\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The general 24-week cap already places the UK\u2019s limit far outside the average of most\u202fcountries across Europe, including France (14 weeks) and Germany (12 weeks).\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41d4a256 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"41d4a256\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #AF272F\">\u201cThe vote on 15th May will signal the biggest decision on UK abortion law for a generation. <\/span>\nOur current 24-week cap is long-outdated in light of scientific data we now have about babies\u2019 development in the womb, \"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">- Lois McLatchie Miller, Senior Legal Communications Officer for ADF UK<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f89447b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7f89447b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Opportunities to bring the law into line with Europe<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-03ed31b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"03ed31b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a97b73d\" data-id=\"a97b73d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d6386d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d6386d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Conservative MP Caroline Ansell (pictured right)\u2019s proposed amendment would bring the UK\u2019s law closer in line with the rest of Europe, by reducing the general limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This proposal is reflective of medical advancements within the last 50 years which allow babies to survive with support if born alive at 22 weeks. \u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">70% of UK women support lowering the abortion limit from the current 24 weeks, according to\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/righttolife.org.uk\/polling\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">polling<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0from Savanta Com Res.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A second amendment, proposed by Conservative MP Liam Fox, would amend the law to protect children with Down Syndrome from being legally aborted up to birth \u2013 thus placing them on an equal legal footing with their peers.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca87d87\" data-id=\"ca87d87\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c230c86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c230c86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Ansell-768x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48356\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Ansell-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Ansell-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Ansell-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Ansell.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74732a0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74732a0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"auto\">Lois McLatchie Miller, Senior Legal Communications Officer for ADF UK, said:<\/span><\/strong><br><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><i style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The vote on 15<\/span><\/i><i style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><\/i><i style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> May will signal the biggest decision on UK abortion law for a generation.&nbsp;<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/span><i style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cOur current 24-week cap is long-outdated in light of scientific data we now have about babies\u2019 development in the womb; as well as medical advancements that allow healthcare professionals to support babies to survive and thrive from as early as 22 weeks. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cAt 22 weeks, a baby has eyelashes and fingernails. Her tastebuds are developing, her hair is beginning to grow, she\u2019s sensitive to touch and studies show she can probably feel pain. <\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8220;Yet in the same hospital right now, there can be a baby at 22 weeks being aborted, and another baby at 22 weeks fighting for her life with the support of medical staff. Ideology aside, lowering the limit to 22 weeks is a humane step in the right direction, based on common sense.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b0cfc0e elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"b0cfc0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #AF272F\">\u201cIn the same hospital right now, there can be a baby at 22 weeks being aborted, <\/span>\nand another baby at 22 weeks fighting for her life with the support of medical staff. \"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-q-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<cite class=\"elementor-blockquote__author\">- Lois McLatchie Miller, Senior Legal Communications Officer for ADF UK<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7c7d80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c7c7d80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Two further amendments tabled to the same bill would push the abortion law in the opposite direction.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31b214c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31b214c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Attempts to decriminalise abortion up to birth<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8381a28 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8381a28\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ce0d36a\" data-id=\"ce0d36a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca86507 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ca86507\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson-1024x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48361\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Johnson.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f22f2d8\" data-id=\"f22f2d8\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7010a167 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7010a167\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A third amendment, tabled by Labour MP Diana Johnson (pictured left), would in-effect decriminalise abortion up to birth, by removing laws which prevent women from self-performing abortions after 24 weeks gestation.\u202f<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Johnson claims that her law would not impact the provision of abortion being generally capped at 24 weeks in a \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">healthcare setting<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d. However, since the\u202fmajority of abortions now take place outside of a clinical setting, women would be able to take abortion pills at home at any stage of their pregnancy up to birth without committing an offence.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-122273b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"122273b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In practice, self-performed abortions in late stages of pregnancy could become increasingly common without deterrent laws in place. Due to to the \u201cpills by post\u201d scheme, women can easily obtain abortion pills without any medical examination by simply informing an abortion provider that they are less than ten weeks pregnant. Carla Foster, who made headlines last year after performing an illegal abortion on her 32-34 week-old baby, obtained abortion pills via pills-by-post by informing the provider that she was only 7 weeks pregnant.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c54c9a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c54c9a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A slippery slope<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-469ad7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"469ad7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The serious medical and psychological risks involved with self-performing abortions at late term would likely put pressure on the government to further liberalise the law again, permitting providers to perform abortions up to birth in a clinical setting. \u202f<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The proposal could therefore become a first step towards legalising abortion up to birth in all circumstances in the UK.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Louise McCudden, Head of External Affairs at MSI Reproductive Choices (Marie Stopes),told <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/uk\/reports\/a60040050\/abortion-amendment-vote-2024\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Cosmopolitan Magazine<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> that Johnson\u2019s amendment is \u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the first milestone towards ultimately decriminalising abortion completely\u201d.<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-font-weight ); letter-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-letter-spacing ); word-spacing: var( --e-global-typography-5916e0c-word-spacing );\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The move to decriminalise abortion up to birth is out of step with public sentiment. According to recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/2024\/04\/07\/abortion-decriminalise-poll-commons-vote-diana-johnson\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">polling,<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> over half\u202fof Brits agree that it should remain illegal for a woman to abort a healthy baby after the current 24-week time limit. Fewer than one in six agreed with the plans to decriminalise abortion.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d247cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7d247cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Removing key safeguards to protect baby girls<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2c63ef3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2c63ef3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d496b9\" data-id=\"3d496b9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7a393b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7a393b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yet another\u202famendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, tabled by Labour MP Stella Creasy (pictured right) and also likely to be voted on on 15<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> May, would remove key legal deterrents which prevent women from self-performing abortions at home in the late stages of pregnancy. \u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Creasy\u2019s amendment further would remove current safeguards in place on abortions prior to 24 weeks, resulting in the legalisation of sex-selective abortion, which is currently not permitted\u202fas a ground for abortion in any circumstance. \u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In 2018, Labour MP Naz Shah, shadow women and equalities minister, campaigned to end the illegal use of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/health\/selective-abortions-gender-tests-girls-uk-labour-a8540851.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">sex-selective abortion<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> against baby girls in some communities in the UK with a tradition of son-preference. The practice has been banned in India and China.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2603541\" data-id=\"2603541\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5387613 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5387613\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Creasy-2-768x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-48371\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Creasy-2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Creasy-2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Creasy-2-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Portrait-Creasy-2.jpeg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eefb86b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eefb86b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<strong>Lois McLatchie Miller, Senior Communications Officer for ADF UK, said:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our current law is wildly out of step with the rest of the world. Our 24-week limit sits at almost double that of most European countries, including\u202fGermany (12 weeks) and France (14 weeks). Yet, unbelievably, some parliamentarians want to make our law even more extreme. <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cAbortion up to birth is no win for women. Carla Foster, who notably performed an abortion on her 32-34 week \u2018haunted&#8217; by the horror of what happened. Late stage abortions carry far greater risk to the mental and physical health of a woman; let alone, end the lives of viable, fully-developed babies who could survive outside the womb if given the chance to live. <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cA humane society prevents this horrendous trauma. Rather than late-stage abortion, women and their babies deserve better care and support to survive and thrive,\u201d <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">added Lois McLatchie Miller.\u202f<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-676dd693 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"676dd693\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27ca3852 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"27ca3852\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only<\/p><p>Pictured: Lois McLatchie Miller, ADF UK<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f54f8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"f54f8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Lois-McLatchie-1.webp\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"f54f8f\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Lois McLatchie\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6NDM4NzIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyNFwvMDNcL0xvaXMtTWNMYXRjaGllLTEud2VicCIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6ImY1NGY4ZiJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Lois-McLatchie-1.webp\" data-width=\"600\" data-height=\"900\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One proposal could decriminalise abortions up-to-birth; yet an alternative amendment could lower the abortion gestational limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks\u202f <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":48351,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[736],"tags":[741,898],"class_list":["post-48350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-right-to-life-en-gb","tag-uk-en-gb"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Date set for UK parliament\u2019s \u201cbiggest decision on abortion law for a generation\u201d - 15 May\u202f\u00a0 - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One proposal could decriminalise abortions up-to-birth; yet an alternative amendment could lower the abortion gestational limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks\u202f.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/news\/uk-debate-abortion-law\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Date set for UK parliament\u2019s \u201cbiggest decision on abortion law for a generation\u201d - 15 May\u202f\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One proposal could decriminalise abortions up-to-birth; 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