Your Guide to Responding to the NIO's Public Consultation
At midnight on Tuesday 22 October 2019, Europe’s most cruel and extreme abortion legislation was undemocratically foisted on the people of Northern Ireland. All legal protection for Northern Ireland unborn children was stripped away through the actions of a draconian Westminster government who do not represent the prolife views of the people of N, Ireland or their elected representatives. Then on the 4th November 2019 the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) launched a public consultation with the view of shaping new regulations to be introduced by 31st March 2020. Faced with the horrific prospect of one of the most liberal abortion regimes in the world, some people may be advised or tempted to agree to some regulations and time limits on abortion, with the hope of reducing the numbers of abortions taking place. However, when responding to this crucial consultation, it is paramount that we remember that every single unborn child has the inherent right to life and each and every abortion is a brutal violation of the precious gift of life. The right to life of the unborn child is widely recognised in international human rights law, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which recognises every child’s ‘inherent right to life’ ‘without discrimination of any kind.’ This declaration states ‘the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth.’
Answering the questions
The consultation consists of 15 questions. This guidance provides background information on the first 14 questions and advice on how to respond to each but these suggestions are only intended to provide a starting point and a framework for your own points. The final question asks for additional comments and we would encourage you to make use of this to expand on your thoughts and personalise your submission. We must keep in mind that in previous instances, officials and MPs have tried to minimise opposition to government proposals around the issue of abortion by counting large numbers of similar pro-life submissions as a single contribution. Personalising and differentiating entries will help to avoid this.
For the ‘yes or no’ element of questions mark the ‘No’ box for each with the exception of questions 10 and 12. These are the only questions where a positive answer is appropriate.
Closing date: The closing date for submissions is 11.45 pm, 16 December, 2019. Please respond to this vital consultation and encourage other like-minded people to do the same. This is the only opportunity we have been given from the government to make our views known on the introduction of this catastrophic and anti-democratic abortion regime.
You can complete the consultation online at: https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/nio-implementation-team/a-new-legal-framework-for-abortion-services-in-ni/consultation/intro/
Alternatively, completed consultations can also be sent by post to:
Abortion Consultation,
Northern Ireland Office,
Stormont House,
Stormont Estate,
Belfast BT4 3SH.
Alternatively, it can be sent as an email attachment to: abortionconsultation@nio.gov.uk
If you need further assistance in completing your submission, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Get in touch by calling 028 9027 8484 or email info@preciouslife.com
Please find our guide to answering the questions attached here: https://www.preciouslife.com/resources