UK Parliament Moves to End Criminal Charges Against Women for Abortion
In a significant development, UK Members of Parliament have voted to stop prosecuting women in England and Wales for terminating pregnancies, signaling a major change in the enforcement of abortion laws.
Currently, women can face criminal charges if they end a pregnancy after 24 weeks or without approval from two doctors, with penalties reaching up to life imprisonment. This issue gained renewed attention following recent court cases where women were acquitted or had charges dropped after being prosecuted for abortion-related matters.
On June 17, MPs passed an amendment introduced by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi with a majority of 242 votes. The amendment ensures that women will no longer be criminally prosecuted for terminating their own pregnancies at any stage, though it does not alter the existing abortion laws themselves.
The amendment now awaits final approval in Parliament and must also pass the House of Lords before becoming law.
Antoniazzi highlighted the harsh reality many women face, stating, “Women are currently being arrested from hospital beds to police cells and subjected to criminal investigations on suspicion of ending their own pregnancies. My amendment would put a stop to this. It’s the right amendment at the right time.”
Abortion remains a criminal offense under the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, which carries a potential life sentence. The Abortion Act of 1967 legalized terminations under specific conditions, allowing abortions up to 23 weeks and six days by authorized providers. Abortions beyond this period are permitted only in limited cases, such as when the mother’s life is at risk or the baby faces serious disabilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, regulations were relaxed to allow women to take abortion pills at home up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Recent cases, like Nicola Packer’s acquittal after taking prescribed abortion medication at 26 weeks, have brought legal challenges into sharp focus. Packer described her court experience as harrowing, having been unaware of her pregnancy’s duration.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children condemned the amendment, calling it the greatest threat to unborn babies in decades.
Antoniazzi clarified that the amendment does not change abortion service laws or time limits, and anyone aiding illegal abortions, including medical professionals, will still face prosecution.
About 50 organizations, including abortion providers and women’s rights groups, support the amendment, citing that six women have been charged in the past three years for ending or attempting to end pregnancies outside the law.
One notable case involved Carla Foster, who was jailed in 2023 for illegally obtaining abortion tablets at 32 to 34 weeks pregnant; her sentence was later suspended on appeal.
Antoniazzi also revealed that over 100 women have been investigated by police for suspected illegal abortions in the last five years, including those who suffered miscarriages or stillbirths. She condemned the investigations as a misuse of taxpayer money and judicial resources, saying, “This is just wrong. It’s a waste of taxpayers’ money, a waste of the judiciary’s time, and not in the public interest.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced his support for women’s rights to safe and legal abortion. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland decriminalized abortion in 2019, and Scotland is currently reviewing its abortion laws.