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Abortion law in Northern Ireland: Government must set out timetable for responding to breaches identified by UN Committee – Women and Equalities Commission

The Women and Equalities Committee publishes report on Abortion law in Northern Ireland.

Our report says that the absence of an Executive in Northern Ireland since 2017 means that there is:

  • no devolved government to respond to significant developments
  • no scrutiny bodies to make sure policies are working well
  • no scrutiny of the use of UK Government funds for women and girls seeking abortion in England and a failure to respond to international human rights obligations

Several significant developments relating to abortion in Northern Ireland

Since January 2017, when the Northern Ireland Assembly ceased functioning, there have been several significant developments relating to abortion in Northern Ireland, including:

  • a UN Committee finding ‘grave’ and ‘systematic’ breaches of women’s rights, and the UK Supreme Court identifying a breach of human rights in relation to cases of fatal foetal abnormality or where the pregnancy has resulted from rape or incest
  • introduction of UK Government funding for women and girls to access free abortion services in England
  • evidence that significant numbers of abortion pills purchased online are being sent to Northern Ireland
  • a lack of follow-up to a report on fatal foetal abnormality commissioned by Northern Ireland ministers.

International human rights obligations

The UN body monitoring women’s rights looked at this issue and found that there were ‘grave’ violations in relation to cases of severe foetal impairment, including fatal foetal abnormality, and rape or incest, and ‘systematic’ violations in the criminalisation of abortion and highly restrictive access.

The report recommends that:

  • the Government needs to set out a clear framework and timeline to address the breaches of women’s rights in Northern Ireland that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women identified if there is no government in Northern Ireland to take this action.

In identifying a breach of human rights in relation to cases of fatal foetal abnormality, rape and incest, the UK Supreme Court did not make a declaration of incompatibility because the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which brought the case, did not have standing.

The report recommends that:

  • the UK Government must set out a timetable for rectifying the error in the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s standing within the next six months so that an individual victim, such as a victim of rape or incest, does not have to take a case to court.

Guidance for healthcare professionals

There is uncertainty about the legality of doctors in Northern Ireland referring patients to the UK Government funded scheme providing free abortions in England and there can be a conflict between healthcare professionals’ duties to their patients, and the law and guidance on abortion in Northern Ireland.

The report concludes that this is unacceptable and recommends that:

  • the Government Equalities Office should publish its legal advice on the scheme funding women and girls from Northern Ireland to access abortions in England, then
  • the Department of Health for Northern Ireland should reissue guidance for healthcare professionals making it clear that referring patients to the funded scheme is not unlawful.

Funding for abortion provision in England: inequalities

The UK Government’s funding for abortion provision in England is not accessed equally by different groups of women and girls.

In addition, women and girls who are pregnant as a result of rape or incest may face prosecution if they have not reported the offence to the police under Northern Ireland law.

The report recommends that:

  • the Government Equalities Office should publish an equality impact assessment on the UK Government funded scheme and should work with community organisations supporting marginalised groups of women and girls to develop an information campaign to explain the provision.
  • the GEO should work with the Home Office to develop pathways for migrant women to travel to England to access the free provision.
  • the Attorney General for Northern Ireland should publish human rights guidance stating that it will rarely be in the public interest to prosecute survivors of rape and incest, and professionals treating them, who have not reported the offence to the police.

Part of a longer press release at https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/women-and-equalities-committee/news-parliament-2017/abortion-law-northern-ireland-report-published-17-19/

April 30, 2019

UK state pension age reforms set to exacerbate social inequalities – Women may lose by up to 25% – new report

A new report from the International Longevity Centre UK (ILC) highlights international research from the EXTEND project that confirms that state pension reforms have significant potential to exacerbate social inequalities.

Research from the EXTEND project shows that those best equipped to take advantage of increased state pension age are more highly educated, more highly skilled, and better paid. Conversely, for disadvantaged workers, the current extending working lives agenda could lead to involuntary early labour market exit, due to greater health and care needs and caring responsibilities.

Moreover, as the majority of domestic work and unpaid care work is undertaken by women, this threatens to create new gender inequalities as women struggle to reconcile longer working lives with caring responsibilities.

Research from the EXTEND project reveals that with the increase of state pension age and the move to contribution-based pension schemes, women with lower education levels in the UK may lose up to 25% of their monthly pension entitlements under the new system compared to before.

Comparing pension reforms across five countries, the report shows that other countries have implemented reforms to state pension without exacerbating social inequalities to the same extent as the UK. EXTEND analysis found that in systems with a strong, reliable basic pension that does not depend on contributions, the increase in social inequalities associated with increasing state pension ages is less marked, thus providing greater social sustainability.

As such, ILC calls on government to draw on examples from other countries to reduce the risk of social inequalities when pension ages are adjusted in line with longevity increases. ILC calls for greater support of workers’ health and wellbeing through job and retirement flexibility, as well as support in the management of illnesses and caring responsibilities.

Part of a longer press release at https://ilcuk.org.uk/uk-state-pension-age-reforms-set-to-exacerbate-social-inequalities/

 

April 30, 2019

The Istanbul Convention and Rape Crisis Services – EDM #2328

Tabled 25 April 2019
2017-19 Session

That this House notes that despite signing up to the Istanbul Convention in 2012, the UK has failed to enshrine the Convention in law; further notes that the Convention stipulates necessary legislative or other measures to ensure that survivors have access to services facilitating their recovery from sexual violence; welcomes the fact that the public petition brought by campaigner Fern Champion on the issue of funding for Rape Crisis specialist services has attracted more than 150,000 signatures; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to enshrine the Istanbul Convention in UK law.

https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/52857/the-istanbul-convention-and-rape-crisis-services

See also https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/mp-tables-edm-calling-for-more-support-for-rape-survivors/

April 30, 2019

Advice Caseworker @ WGN

Job title: Advice Caseworker (Female Applicants Only) Closing Date: 10am on the 22nd May 2019 Organisation: WGN (Women and Girls Network) Website: http://www.wgn.org.uk/ Description: Female Applicants Only. WGN is an equal opportunities employer. The above post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1. This post is based in Ealing and involves some travel across London. Women and Girls Network (WGN) is looking for an experienced, dynamic and innovative practitioner to join our highly successful Advice Service as a Caseworker.   We are looking for a highly skilled professional who is experienced in delivering survivor-led, strength-based and trauma-informed [...]

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April 29, 2019

Counsellor @ Jewish Women’s Aid

Job title: Counsellor Closing date: Tuesday 14th May 2019 Organisation: Jewish Women’s Aid Website: www.jwa.org.uk Description: Jewish Women’s Aid is setting up a Sexual Violence Service – The Dina Project – offering Advocacy through the Criminal Justice System, a Helpline and Counselling for survivors. We are looking to recruit a counsellor who will provide specialist counselling to survivors of sexual abuse aged 16+. You will be a qualified counsellor, accredited with either BACP or UKCP and have an excellent understanding and practice of working with PTSD and sexual violence trauma from a predominantly person centred perspective; a knowledge and understanding [...]

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April 29, 2019