Abortion

UN human rights experts have condemned an extremely restrictive new abortion ban in Texas as "structural sex and gender-based discrimination at its worst" – while a court ruling in neighbouring Mexico has paved the way for abortion to be decriminalised.

An independent review of Ireland's abortion laws will begin within weeks, health minister Stephen Donnelly has indicated. The Department of Health confirmed to The Irish Times that an independent expert will be appointed to lead the review, which will take "a three-part approach to reviewing the ope

Health minister Stephen Donnelly has denied that plans to legislate for exclusion zones around abortion clinics have been dropped. A spokesperson for the Department of Health had earlier suggested to the Irish Examiner that "existing public order legislation" could deal with protests outside healthc

Northern Ireland's Department of Health has been directed to commission and make abortion services available as soon as possible and no later than 31 March 2022. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis yesterday issued the direction using his powers under the Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations

Pro-life campaigners have formally lodged proceedings in Belfast against regulations giving the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland powers to direct the commissioning of abortion services. Belfast law firm Hewitt & Gilpin has been instructed by the Centre for Bioethical Reform Northern Irela

Former Attorney General John Larkin QC will lead a legal team assembled by pro-life campaigners to challenge regulations giving the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland powers to direct the commissioning of abortion services. Belfast law firm Hewitt & Gilpin has been instructed by the Centre

Regulations giving the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland powers to direct the commissioning of abortion services have been approved by Westminster. The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 were approved by MPs in a 431-89 vote on Tuesday and agreed by Lords yesterday afternoon.

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has laid regulations in Westminster giving him the power to direct Stormont to commission abortion services. The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2021 will come into force on 31 March 2021 and will allow Mr Lewis to direct Northern Ireland ministers, d

The UK government will intervene to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland following Health Minister Robin Swann's failure to do so, according to reports. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis is this week expected to introduce regulations which will give him the power to direct the com

Human rights campaigners have welcomed the reinstatement of early abortion services by Northern Ireland’s South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust. Earlier this month, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) launched legal action against the government over its failure to commis

Northern Ireland's human rights watchdog has launched legal action against the government over its failure to commission and fund abortion services. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission yesterday announced it had lodged judicial review proceedings in the High Court against the Secretary of S

The failings of Northern Ireland’s Department of Health are causing abortion provision to breakdown and are putting women in a vulnerable and dangerous position, Amnesty International and Informing Choices NI (ICNI) have said on the anniversary of abortion becoming decriminalised in Northern I

Northern Ireland's new abortion regime is too extensive because it covers "non-fatal disabilities", MLAs resolved yesterday after Stormont's first debate on the matter since the law was changed. Under The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020, introduced by Westminster, there is no time limit

Abortion laws in Northern Ireland could be tightened again after the DUP and Sinn Féin indicated their opposition to parts of the regulations introduced earlier this year. Under The Abortion (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020, there is no time limit on abortion in the case of "severe foetal

Controversial proposals to tighten Poland's already-strict abortion laws have been effectively shelved by MPs. The bill, which was introduced under a citizen's initiative mechanism by the right-wing Life and Family Foundation, would have removed fatal foetal abnormality as a grounds for abortion.