In a deeply concerning move, the British Parliament has voted to decriminalise self-managed abortion up to birth. This means that women in England and Wales will no longer face prosecution for inducing an abortion at home, whether through abortion pills or any other method, even beyond the current 24-week legal limit. However, it remains a criminal offence for third parties to procure or assist with an abortion outside the legal framework. Decriminalisation applies solely to women who carry out their own abortions.
This change will open the door to a rise in late-term and unregulated abortions, particularly given the ease of access to abortion pills today. These can be obtained via remote consultations, where critical information such as gestational age or pregnancy complications can easily be omitted or misrepresented. This radical shift marks the most significant change to British abortion law since the 1967 Abortion Act.
Even more disturbing is the fact that many are unaware this approach has already been implemented in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, following the 2018 referendum, legislation was introduced that explicitly exempts women from legal penalties for self-managed abortions, regardless of gestational stage. In Northern Ireland, decriminalisation was imposed by the British government in 2019.
In effect, a woman may legally take abortion pills at any point during pregnancy, even when the baby is fully formed and viable. Pro-abortion advocates in both UK and Ireland are now pushing to extend decriminalisation further to include medical professionals and others involved in the process.
The pro-life movement must speak out and stand against this barbarism.
For this reason, and many others, I encourage you to attend the Rally for Life in Dublin on 5th July, starting at 1.30 p.m. from Parnell Square.
Ahead of the Rally, at 12.00 p.m., Family Solidarity, in partnership with the Life Institute and Health Professionals for Life, will host a special event featuring Dr Haywood Robinson, a former abortionist and now a passionate pro-life advocate. The talk will be held in the Abbey Church, Parnell Square.
Let us unite and raise our voices for life.
