Presently, Northern Ireland is the only region in Ireland and the UK were abortion is almost entirely illegal.
At a conference in Belfast today (Saturday 16 June), members of Sinn Féin have voted to to change the party’s position on abortion, with the members backing a motion stating that women should have access to abortions within ‘a limited gestational period.’
This is less than a month after the referendum which removed the eighth amendment from the constitution in the Republic Of Ireland, while the Abortion Act was passed and enacted in parts of the UK back in 1967.
Currently in Northern Ireland, abortions in cases of rape, incest or fatal foetal abnormalities are not automatically legally permitted to be carried out.
“The Ard Chomhairle motion makes sense. It is based on expert medical evidence and would allow us to legislate in a compassionate way for women. Women who are in crisis.” .@moneillsf #SFAF18 pic.twitter.com/zBPvekQwQ7
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) June 16, 2018
The new stance has been welcomed by others, with Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Campaigns Manager, stating the following:
“We welcome the adoption of this policy which reaffirms abortion as a healthcare and human rights issue. Following the abortion referendum, Sinn Féin and others must work to ensure that no woman on this island is left behind, including those in Northern Ireland who continue to live under one of the most restrictive regimes in Europe. Change is long overdue and must happen.
“Our work will continue with Sinn Féin and other parties to ensure a framework which respects, protects and promotes the rights of women is established.”
Main image via Sinn Fein Twitter
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