New UK Law Protects Women from Late-Term Abortion Charges

The UK has taken a big step in changing its abortion laws. For the first time in nearly 60 years, the UK Parliament has voted to stop women from being punished for ending their pregnancies late in term. This change comes as many places in the US are trying to restrict abortion access. In a clear vote, the House of Commons approved new rules. These rules say that women in England and Wales can't be investigated, arrested, or sent to jail for having an abortion, no matter when it happens during the pregnancy. The vote was 379 to 137, showing strong support for the change. Abortion in the UK is usually allowed up to 24 weeks. After that, it's only allowed if the woman's life is in danger. But sometimes, women end their pregnancies outside these rules. For example, they might buy pills online and take them at home, even in the third trimester. Until now, this could lead to prosecution. One well-known case is that of Nicola Parker. She took abortion medicine when she was about 26 weeks pregnant. She thought she was only six weeks along. She was arrested and jailed but was later found not guilty. This case highlights the need for the new law. The new law aims to provide care and support to women, rather than punishing them. MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who helped create the law, called the old rules "outdated" and "Victorian. " However, not everyone is happy with the new law. Some think it doesn't go far enough. It doesn't change rules for abortions in clinics. It also doesn't stop prosecutions of people who help women get late-term abortions. Another MP, Stella Creasy, wanted to fully decriminalize abortion and make it a human right. But her proposal wasn't voted on. She called this a "missed opportunity. " Another proposal, to stop the sale of mail-order abortion pills, also wasn't voted on. The new law still needs approval from the House of Lords. But it's likely to pass. This change only affects England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. This is the biggest change to UK abortion laws since 1967. That law first legalized abortion in England, Wales, and Scotland. Initially, it allowed abortions up to 28 weeks, but that was later reduced to 24 weeks. The UK's approach to abortion is part of a broader debate. Some countries are making it easier to access abortion, while others are restricting it. This change in the UK shows a shift towards providing more support and fewer punishments for women who choose to end their pregnancies.