Abortion

The Northern Ireland Assembly has narrowly rejected a bill which would have restricted access to abortion in the case of several foetal impairment. The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by DUP MLA Christopher Stalford, was defeated by 45-42 yesterday.

An independent review of Ireland's abortion laws has begun with the launch of a public consultation. The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act) 2018, introduced after the referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment, specifically provides for a review of the operation of the Act within

A pregnant woman in Poland has died from septic shock which doctors allegedly did not treat properly out of concern they would fall foul of the country's strict anti-abortion laws – in a case with parallels to the death of Savita Halappanavar in Ireland in 2012. Polish lawyer Jolanta Budzowska

Anti-abortion protesters could be fined or jailed for harassing women outside hospitals and clinics, under a proposed law, The Times reports. Paul Gavan, the Sinn Féin senator, introduced the safe access zones bill in the Seanad yesterday. It would mandate a 100m buffer zone around relevant p

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland failed to comply with his statutory duties to "expeditiously" provide women in Northern Ireland with access to high-quality abortion and post-abortion services for over a year, the High Court has ruled. In a case brought by the Northern Ireland Human Right

A high-profile legal challenge to the liberalisation of Northern Ireland's abortion laws, spearheaded by former Attorney General John Larkin QC, has begun in the High Court. Mr Larkin is acting on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) in an application for judicial revie

Abortion will be legalised in San Marino after more than three-quarters of voters in the small European republic backed the move in a referendum yesterday. At least 95 per cent of people living in San Marino, one of Europe's oldest sovereign states, profess the Catholic faith and around half of thos

The Biden administration has announced plans to sue the state of Texas over an extremely restrictive new law banning abortions in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. The Supreme Court of the United States last week rejected an emergency petition brought by Texas abortion clinics against the law,

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.