Lords urged to ensure women criminalised for abortion are ‘not left behind’

Campaigners are urging the House of Lords to consider the fate of women previously criminalized under abortion legislation in England and Wales, as the Lords debate amendments to a crime and policing bill. These amendments aim to end active police investigations into suspected illegal abortions and pardon women already convicted. Liberal Democrat peer Elizabeth Barker argues that past convictions create lifelong barriers to employment and other opportunities. The call to action follows a House of Commons vote to end the criminalization of women who terminate pregnancies outside the legal framework. The article highlights the story of a young woman, Becca, who unknowingly terminated a six-month pregnancy and faced potential legal repercussions, illustrating the need for change.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories

Discover articles with similar content using semantic similarity analysis.