A second woman has been arrested and charge with accessing and administering abortion pills, Mifepristine and Misoprostal. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/21-year-old-northern-irish-woman-to-stand-trial-for-having-abortion-a6807391.html

Alliance for Choice, and our allies, condemn the criminalisation of women, and anyone who can become pregnant, for accessing reproductive healthcare. 

Chairperson Kellie O'Dowd said, "our current legislation and lack of guidelines leaves thousands of women in Northern Ireland with no other option but to buy pills from the internet. We firmly believe that this woman should have been able to access safe and legal abortion and be cared for by medical practitioners here in Northern Ireland. We previously published a letter with over 200 signatories admitting to procuring or self-administering the early medical abortion pill, so why has this woman been singled out for prosecution?"

In Europe more than 1.5million women have terminated their pregnancies with mifepristone and misoprostol safely. These drugs have been on the list of essential medicines of the Worlds Health Organisation since 2005 and are deemed safer than the use of anti-biotics (pg 65 WHO Report, 2005).

Vice Chairperson Emma Campbell said, "In 2016 it is shameful that the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act still makes criminals out of women accessing abortion in Northern Ireland."

Sierra Leone only last week repealed the 1861 Act to make way for a Safe Abortion Act – this again highlights that it is time for our MLAs to Trust Women. 

Please join us at Belfast City Hall this Friday to stand in solidarity with the 21 year old women from Co. Down who has been charged. She is #notacriminal!

Posters and placards will be provided but feel free to bring/make your own.