Northern Ireland: abortion not accessible despite its legalization, London plans to force through

The British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is ready to force through the establishment of abortion.

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In Northern Ireland, abortion has been legal for two and a half years.

But the local government still hasn't set up the necessary services, although it must legally do so by March 31. 

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From our correspondent in London

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The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is preparing the legal mechanisms to set up services dedicated to abortion.

According to Brandon Lewis, it is clear that by the end of March the local Unionist, Conservative health minister will not have initiated funding for these services.

In October 2019, it was already London that imposed decriminalization.

The mechanisms, which do not yet have a date of entry into force, will make it possible to dispense with the consent of Belfast to finance clinics practicing voluntary termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland.

For now, Northern Irish women continue to have to travel to Britain or order abortion pills on the internet… One of them, who had to travel to England during the pandemic, had Brandon Lewis convicted for breaches of its obligations.

Organizations that defend the right to abortion coldly welcomed the announcement of the Secretary of State.

According to Amnesty International, it had long been clear that abortion would not be accessible at the end of March and that measures should have been taken earlier so as not to further delay access to the right to choose.

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