The Department for Women and Equalities announced that they would cover the cost of abortions for NI women and pregnant people, and travel and accommodation for those who meet the criteria. The Central Booking System is not up and running yet however so we have put together a few Questions and Answers for what to do until it is.
Legal challenge to Northern Ireland’s abortion law to begin in Supreme Court
The Supreme Court in London will tomorrow hear a case being brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) who will state that the current NI abortion law with regards to cases of rape, incest, or serious foetal anomaly is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Currently, abortion is unlawful in Northern Ireland unless it is necessary to preserve the life of the woman, carrying a potential sentence of up to life imprisonment. In 2015/16, just 16 abortions were performed in Northern Ireland, which together with the previous year represents the lowest number on record. In 2015, 833 women from Northern Ireland travelled to England for abortion care.