Labour MP Stella Creasy is leading a movement to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales, advocating for abortion to be treated as a healthcare issue rather than a criminal offence. Creasy, alongside a group of cross-party MPs, is proposing an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would allow abortion up to the 24-week limit without criminal penalties and seek to safeguard healthcare providers offering terminations. This move aims to eliminate the requirement of approval from two doctors for an abortion within this timeframe and protect individuals from prosecution after the legal time frame except in specific public interest cases. The existing laws, governed by the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, have led to 67 prosecutions over the past decade and numerous investigations, causing significant distress.

The push for decriminalization occurs amidst a contentious debate surrounding women’s reproductive rights, with Creasy highlighting an increase in anti-abortion activism and instances of harassment towards pro-choice campaigners. Proponents draw parallels to Northern Ireland’s less restrictive abortion laws as a model, featuring the repeal of sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act, and emphasize modernizing the law to align with international human rights standards.

The proposal not only seeks to secure women’s autonomy over their bodies by considering abortion access within the 24-week limit as a human right but also aims to ensure that government officials are held accountable for the continuous provision of abortion services. As debates on the amendment are expected in April, the discussion remains focused on enhancing reproductive healthcare and protecting women’s rights in England and Wales.