Abortion law 'clarification' sought

Focus is on Northern Ireland's abortion laws

The Family Planning Association is seeking what it calls "a clarification" of the law on abortion in Northern Ireland, compared to the rest of the UK.

It has lodged papers in the High Court in Belfast.

The organisation is seeking leave to apply for a judicial review of the current state of medical practice in relation to services available to women seeking a termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland.

This is a major step, as it is the first time that such an action has been taken

Audrey Simpson
Family Planning Association

FPA director Audrey Simpson said that if successful, the challenge would give women "equal rights to reproductive health care services".

"We are asking the courts to advise the Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety of their duty to ensure that all women in Northern Ireland have equal access to reproductive health care services," she said.

"This is a major step, as it is the first time that such an action has been taken."

'Lack of clarity'

Although the 1967 Abortion Act does not apply to Northern Ireland, the department of health accept the legality of abortions in certain circumstances.

However, the Family Planning Association said there was a lack of clarity around the circumstances in which an abortion could take place.

The organisation said this resulted in "confusing and inconsistent medical practice".

Audrey Simpson: "A major step"

The department of health confirmed that no departmental guidance on the provision of abortion had been issued.

However, statistics show there had been more than 70 performed in Northern Ireland in 1999.

"Decision-making power about who qualifies for an National Health Service abortion in Northern Ireland is left to the medical profession," said Ms Simpson.

"Very little information is available to women themselves.

"In reality the vast majority of women who decide to terminate a pregnancy are forced to travel to Britain," she said.

According to the Family Planning Association, some 40,000 women have travelled from Northern Ireland in the last 20 years for an abortion in Britain.

Ann Furedi, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, welcomed the FPA move.

She said: "Last year BPAS carried out almost 1000 abortions on women from Northern Ireland, so there is no denying that women from Northern Ireland do have abortions.

"This year the numbers are likely to be the same. Laws against abortion do not prevent it.

"They simply cause women the distress of having to travel, having to raise difficult sums of money, and sometimes having to conceal their actions."