The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has published a 19-page inquiry report on access to abortion in Northern Ireland following the committee’s visit to Northern Ireland in September 2016.

Responding to the ruling, Les Allamby, chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, said: “We welcome the recommendations of today’s critical report, which echo the grounds of our own legal challenge on access to abortion services.

“The inquiry interviewed women who conveyed the ‘extreme vulnerability, physical and psychological stress, mental anguish, desperation and isolation they experienced in seeking appropriate medical treatment to terminate their pregnancy’.

“The Commission notes the UN Committee has called for a change in the law so that ‘no criminal charges can be brought against women and girls who undergo abortion’ in Northern Ireland. We will now review the report in full detail.”

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International’s campaigns manager in Northern Ireland, said: “This damning report from the United Nations confirms what Amnesty has long said - Northern Ireland’s draconian abortion laws are a daily violation of the rights of women and girls.

“The UN Committee is very clear that it is the UK Government which is responsible for ensuring that our laws are in line with the state’s international human rights obligations.

“Devolution – even if functioning – does not relieve the UK Government of their responsibility to uphold human rights in Northern Ireland.

“We call on the UK Government to introduce abortion reform legislation at Westminster without any further delay.”