Aid organizations outraged: British woman sentenced to prison for late abortion

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After a woman in Britain was sentenced to have a late abortion, demands for law reform came from politicians and aid organisations. “What is the purpose of criminalizing and incarcerating this woman if she simply needs better access to health care and other support?” said Harriet Wistrich, director of the Center for Women’s Justice. The 44-year-old is traumatized anyway and will miss her three children for over a year.

The woman was sentenced to 28 months in prison on Monday for having an abortion without medical assistance when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant. She must serve at least half of the sentence. The convict had claimed she had had no access to doctors or advice during the pandemic. In a telephone consultation with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, she gave false information about her pregnancy and was given medication for an abortion. She was convicted under an 1861 law. In the UK, abortions are legal up to the 24th week of pregnancy and must be performed in clinics from the 10th week of pregnancy.

Requirements for legal reform

The chair of Parliament’s Committee on Women and Equal Rights, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, 50, told BBC Radio 4 on Monday evening that the tragic case made it clear “that we depend on laws that are very, very outdated”. Parliament should address the issue, Nokes demanded. Member of Parliament Stella Creasy (46) of the opposition Labor party also called for reform.

The judge also referred to parliament when pronouncing the verdict. “The legal balance between a woman’s reproductive rights and the rights of her unborn fetus is an emotional and often controversial issue,” says Edward Pepperall. “However, that is a matter for parliament and not for the courts.” (SDA)

Source: Blick