LONDON: UK lawmakers are preparing to vote on Tuesday on proposed changes to abortion laws in England and Wales, aiming to end prosecutions of women for terminating pregnancies.
Under current legislation, women can face criminal charges for ending a pregnancy after 24 weeks or without approval from two doctors, with penalties that could include life imprisonment.
The issue has gained prominence following recent court cases, including one where a woman was acquitted and another where a conviction was overturned on appeal.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi has introduced an amendment to ensure that no woman would face criminal charges for terminating her own pregnancy at any stage.
"Women are currently being arrested from hospital beds and taken to police cells for investigations into ending their own pregnancies," Antoniazzi stated. "This amendment would put a stop to that."
Abortion remains a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, though the Abortion Act 1967 legalized terminations under specific conditions, including up to 23 weeks and six days of gestation if performed by an authorized provider.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, laws were updated to allow women to take abortion pills at home up to 10 weeks into pregnancy.
In May, Nicola Packer was acquitted after taking prescribed abortion medication at around 26 weeks, beyond the legal limit for home use.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has opposed the amendment, calling it "the greatest threat to unborn babies in decades."
Broad Support for Reform
Antoniazzi’s amendment does not alter existing regulations on abortion services or time limits. Medical practitioners assisting in procedures outside legal provisions would still be subject to prosecution.
Around 50 organizations, including medical colleges and women’s rights groups, have endorsed the amendment, citing six cases in the past three years where women were prosecuted for ending pregnancies outside legal frameworks.
Carla Foster was sentenced in 2023 for illegally obtaining abortion tablets at 32 to 34 weeks of pregnancy, though her sentence was later suspended.
With 140 MPs publicly supporting the change, Antoniazzi expressed optimism about the vote.
"This amendment has widespread backing across party lines, and I am hopeful the Commons will approve it," she said.
Lawmakers will vote freely, without party mandates.
Northern Ireland decriminalized abortion in 2019, and Scotland is currently reviewing its abortion laws.
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