Please ACT Now: Tell the NI Assembly to REPEAL Section 9 ahead of debate this Tuesday
The Northern Ireland Assembly will debate a motion on abortion at Stormont this Tuesday (2nd June) which seeks to outlaw disability-selective abortion. The motion is part of the DUP's effort to challenge Northern Ireland's abortion law, and includes proposing a ban on disability-selective abortion.
The motion, some of which relates to Down syndrome, put forward by the DUP, “welcomes the important intervention of disability campaigner Heidi Crowter and rejects the imposition of abortion legislation which extends to all non-fatal disabilities, including Down syndrome”.
Abortion up to birth
Under the new legislation that came into effect on March 31st, abortion has become legal in Northern Ireland without any restriction up to at least 12 weeks of pregnancy. After 12 weeks, abortion is available on demand in Northern Ireland up to 24 weeks (6 months) under grounds of mental or physical health of the mother.
The legislation (section 9 of the Northern Ireland Executive Formation Act) also allows abortion “where there is a risk to the life of the woman or girl, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, or where necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl, including in cases of immediate necessity without any gestational time limit.” This section of the law allows abortion up to birth for a range of reasons, including in cases of disability.
The DUP motion
The DUP motion, which is in the name of Assembly members Paul Givan, Joanne Bunting, Michelle McIlveen and Pam Cameron, seeks to challenge the abortion legislation passed at Westminster. If passed, the motion would not have the ability to repeal the law. However, it would shine a much-needed spotlight on the extremity of the Westminster-imposed abortion law, and opens up a vital discussion on this radical abortion regime at Stormont. The motion also focuses specifically on disability and seeks to ban abortion on the basis of disabilities such as Down's Syndrome and cleft lip.
While the motion is a positive step forward, it is vital that pro-life people in Northern Ireland make it clear that to protect every child from abortion, we need full repeal of section 9, which allows abortion up to birth for a range of reasons.
In its motion, the DUP refer to the work of Heidi Crowter, a prominent disability rights campaigner who has Down syndrome, and who has been campaigning for a change in the British law which allows for abortion up to full term in cases of Down syndrome.
Mr Givan, a Lagan Valley MLA, indicated that the DUP would press for full rejection of the Westminster legislation and said the Sinn Féin amendment “is a recognition of the flawed legislation that Westminster is imposing on the people of Northern Ireland”.
“Our motion recognises the flawed approach taken by the UK government in imposing this legislation, which is a devolved issue for Stormont, ” he added.
Discussing the motion in a promotional video, Mr Givan said, "We have an opportunity to send a clear message, here at Stormont, to Wesminster, that we don't accept [this abortion law] and that we need equality of treatment for all people in Northern Ireland, including those with disabilities. I've had the opportunity to work with many MLAs across different parties, irrespective of whether it's unionist or nationalist, because this is an issue that is shared across our comminity."
Mr Givan asked pro-life people for their support with the motion, adding, "I encourage you to encourage your MLAs in your area to get behind this motion and send a clear message to the Government of Westminster."
Alliance for Choice, who campaign for abortion up to birth in Northern Ireland, have strongly condemned the Sinn Féin amendment, said it would “mean people would have to continue to travel for terminations for foetal anomaly diagnoses as they still have to in the 26 counties”.
Thank you
Precious Life want to say a massive thank you to all of our members, supporters and volunteers for their tireless activism and advocacy for the repeal of section 9 since the passing of this horrific abortion law in October 2019. We would ask our supporters to contact their MLA to ask them to repeal section 9 in full - and send a powerful message that every life counts.
Please use this vital opportunity to write to your MLA NOW to ask them to vote in favour of the DUP’s amendment. Please go a step further and demand the full repeal of section 9 to ensure that EVERY unborn child is protected. Visit theyworkforyou.com to find your MLAs details and ask them to speak up for LIFE in the NI Assembly and support the DUP’s motion for the FULL REPEAL of this abortion law to protect every unborn child in Northern Ireland.
Contact your MLA here: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mlas/
Please continue to share and add your name to our vital petition here: https://www.citizengo.org/en-gb/node/177408