Precious Life reaffirm that abortion is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland
A new Westminster inquiry, held by the Women and Equalities Select Committee, is to examine whether the Government has a responsibility to reform our pro-life, life-saving laws in Northern Ireland.
Bernadette Smyth, director of Precious Life, the leading pro-life group in Northern Ireland, said the inquiry must recognise that the law on abortion was a devolved matter. We can’t pick and choose devolution.
Mrs Smyth added: “It should stay a devolved issue. It’s very unfair of another government – like Westminster – to try to override the democratic process. Even though Stormont is down at the moment I think, while it’s down, Westminster should recognise the democratic process and leave our laws alone.”
Mrs Smyth finished, “The inquiry will show very clearly that there is no will for a change in the law in Northern Ireland, there’s no will at Stormont. But if there is a push to change it, let people in government in Northern Ireland make decisions regarding what happens in our laws and what happens to our people.”
Precious Life would like to reaffirm that abortion is a devolved issue in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, there is no human right to abortion under any international legal instrument. Without the human right to life all other human rights are utterly meaningless. True equality begins in the womb and allows everyone to be born irrespective of stage of development, abilities, disabilities, or circumstances of conception.
Northern Ireland has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world. It is one of the safest places in the world for pregnant women. There are over 100,000 people alive today in Northern Ireland because of our pro-life laws that safeguard mothers and unborn children in law, policy and practice.