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27th April 2020

PR: Precious Life say ‘ultimate goal’ needs to be full repeal of NI’s abortion law

Precious Life have welcomed the Attorney General’s calls for conscientious objection provision on abortion, but said that the ultimate goal for pro-lifers in Northern Ireland needs to be full repeal of the province’s extreme abortion law.

Regarding the new abortion regulations that were recently introduced to Northern Ireland, Attorney General John Larkin QC wrote,

“It is doubtful whether the legislation gives adequate European Convention on Human Rights-based protection to the rights of those opposed on religious or philosophical grounds.”

Mr Larkin added: “In my view, it is disproportionate in the Northern Irish context (and therefore contrary to article 9 of the Convention) to require those who undertake ancillary, administrative and managerial tasks to act contrary to their conscience for service maintenance reasons as set out in the consultation response.”

Bernadette Smyth, Director of Precious Life said that whilst her organisation welcomed the Attorney General’s call for broader conscientious protection in law for medical staff and personnel, the people of Northern Ireland cannot take their focus off the long-term campaign to repeal section 9.

Ms Smyth said, “Whilst we welcome this intervention from the Attorney General to protect conscientious rights under article 9 of the Convention of Human Rights, there needs to be a full challenge of this inhumane and barbaric law, which has been enforced against the democratic will of the Northern Ireland electorate.”

Ms Smyth continued, “Providing conscientious objection protection for all healthcare professionals and personnel should be a major focus; our doctors, nurses and medical staff have a duty of care to both mother and baby. It should be unthinkable that anyone should be forced to participate in the killing of an unborn baby, whether directly or indirectly.

“However, the need for conscientious objection is only one aspect of this. One of the most extreme, broad-based and inhumane abortion regimes in Europe has been enforced on mothers and babies in Northern Ireland, against the democratic will of the people here. Abortion is now available on demand up to 6 months (24 weeks) and up to the point of birth for a child with a disability. This is not in the name of people here who have persistently rejected the introduction of any form of abortion.”

Ms Smyth added, “We know that 79% of the 21,000 responses to the UK Government’s Public Consultation on this abortion law were resolutely opposed to any change to our pro-life laws. The imposition of this cruel and extreme law is a grave assault on democracy and a betrayal of the principles of devolution.”

Ms Smyth concluded, “Our focus going forward needs to be repealing this ferocious abortion legislation in full to restore legal personhood recognition for every unborn child in Northern Ireland. Each child is a member of the human family, by virtue of his or her humanity, and must be protected in law, policy and practise.”

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Precious Life PO Box 425, Belfast, BT1 4YF

t: 028 9027 8484 e: [email protected]

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