British legislators legalize abortion, during the USA tightening

British legislators legalize abortion, during the USA tightening

On Tuesday, the British MPs voted to decriminalize abortions for pregnant women - a clear contrast to the strict measures against reproductive rights in the United States.

abolition of outdated laws

The legislators voted overwhelmed to cancel the Victorian law, which enables women to end women who end pregnancy in England and Wales. Medical specialists who help a woman to end her pregnancy beyond certain deadlines continue to break the law.

A abortion is currently illegal after the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in these two parts of the United Kingdom. After this period, abortions are only permitted under certain circumstances, such as if the life of the mother is in danger. Although abortions are common in England and Wales, women who end their pregnancy outside of the existing restrictions see each other towards the risk of criminal investigation, arrest, indictment and even prison sentence.

The importance of the outcome of the vote

The vote on Tuesday, which changes a draft for a law on police measures and crime, aims to eliminate these threats. The amended draft law must go through both the sub- and the upper chamber of the British parliament

According to YouGov surveys from 2019, the majority of the British believe that women should have the right to abortion. A Current survey from April showed that 88 % of the respondents of this right support.

strict restrictions in the USA

The vote in the UK takes place at a time when the United States drastically restricted abortion rights across the Atlantic. Since the U.Sonsten court in 2022 ROE v. Wade canceled -the abortion was anchored as a constitutional right-many US states have strict restrictions or Complete prohibitions introduced. These changes have fundamentally changed the landscape of reproductive health and options in America.

reactions to the changes

Louise McCudden, head of external affairs at MSI Reproductive Choices, an organization that offers abortions, sees a connection between the coordination on Tuesday and an "enemy climate" towards the abortion rights in the UK, which is reinforced by the changes in the USA.

mccudden told CNN that there was an “increase in the activities of anti-abortion groups outside of the (MSI) clinics” that feel “strengthened” by repression of abortion rights across the Atlantic.

"In the rare cases in which women who are over 24 weeks pregnant are suspected of ending their pregnancy, they are almost always in extreme vulnerable situations," she added, stating that the women examined in Great Britain were victims of domestic violence, potential victims of human trafficking and women who had experienced miscarriages or born.

criticism from the Society for the Protection of Unborne Children

However, the British Society for the Protection of unborn children sharply condemned the vote on Tuesday. "If this clause becomes law, a woman who drives her baby at all times of pregnancy would not commit a criminal offense second before birth," said Alithea Williams, the head of the company's public relations work, in a explanation on Tuesday.

"Now even the very limited protection that the law offers is abolished," she added.

Reporting by CNNS Kara Fox was also integrated into this article.