Abortion Allowed up to Birth in Case of Non-Fatal Disability in NI Despite Stormont Assembly Vote

Country: United Kingdom

Date of incident: June 15, 2020


Despite the opposition by the Stormont Assembly, Parliament of Northern Ireland, the House of Lords in the UK backed the abortion regulations for Northern Ireland, which were made on the time when the Assembly had collapsed. The regulations permit abortions up to birth in cases of severe non-fatal disability, such as the Down-syndrome. Lord Shinkwin, a Peer in the House of Lords, who also has a disability asked how they could deny life to a human being diagnosed with a non-fatal disability.

Baroness O'Loan said: "We now have a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly. Abortion is a devolved matter. The assembly voted to reject these regulations on June 2. I ask you to listen to the people of Northern Ireland. Listen to our assembly. Do not approve these regulations."

She was supported by disabled Tory peer Lord Shinkwin, who asked how "denying a human being diagnosed before birth with a non-fatal disability like mine the equal right to be born is somehow not less favourable treatment".

Source: BCCBCC

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