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Press release - 17th June 2014
KEEPING ABORTION ILLEGAL DECREASES THE ABORTION RATE

Leading pro-life group Precious Life has welcomed the latest abortion figures to be released by the Department of Health which show a continued decrease in the number of women from Northern Ireland having abortions in Britain.

According to the figures, in 2013, a total of 802 women from Northern Ireland travelled to Britain for an abortion, compared to 905 the previous year. A similar decrease was also reflected in the number of women travelling to Britain from the Republic. In 2013, 3,679 Irish women travelled to Britain to procure an abortion, down from 3,982 in 2012.

Commenting on the continued decrease, Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “Any reduction in the figures of women choosing to end the life of their child is always welcome. However, we must never forget that each of the numbers represented in the statistics reflects a life taken; an innocent life lost.” 

She continued, “Members of Precious Life work hard all year round to inform and educate women about the reality of abortion and, to this end, our crisis pregnancy outreach programme provides real help to women when they need it most. Precious Life is always available to help whenever it can because we believe passionately that "no woman in a crisis pregnancy should ever feel that abortion is her only option. Our crisis pregnancy outreach programme provides real help to women. Precious Life seek to eliminate the crisis not destroy the baby."

In conclusion Mrs. Smyth said “These figures represent a positive step in the right direction and vindicate what we have said for a long time, namely that contrary to what people may think, that keeping abortion illegal does in fact decrease the abortion rate. This is the message we will be taking to the Rally for Life in Belfast on July 5th. Everyone who supports and values human life at all stages of development are invited to join us at 2pm in Custom House Square Belfast. More information about the event is available on our website.”

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