“The results confirm what we have long known: that an overwhelming majority favour reform of our inhumane abortion laws” – Grainne Teggart

Amnesty International has today welcomed the results of the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey which has revealed that an overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland favour reform of Northern Ireland’s abortion laws.

The results show, for example, that 73% of respondents believe that abortion should be legal if the foetus has a serious or fatal abnormality. 78% thought abortion should be legal when a woman has become pregnant as a result of rape or incest.

Grainne Teggart, Campaign Manager for Amnesty International in Northern Ireland, said:

“Today’s results confirm what we have long known: that an overwhelming majority favour reform of our inhumane abortion laws.  People who think women should be denied abortions are in a small and ever-decreasing minority. 

“Not only do a huge majority of people in Northern Ireland want to see abortion made available to women and girls in the tragic circumstances of sexual crime or fatal foetal diagnosis, but they also want to see abortion decriminalised and dealt with through healthcare policy.

“Abortion is a healthcare and human rights issue. It’s high time the law was changed in line with the overwhelming wishes of the public. Then women would no longer have to travel to England for an abortion and they and their medical carers would no longer be treated as criminals. Politicians in Northern Ireland and at Westminster must heed this demand for change.”

Full survey results