House of Lords Votes to Decriminalize Abortion in UK

0:00On March 19, peers in Britain's House of Lords have voted to support decriminalizing abortion in England and Wales. This follows a decision by MPs last summer to back in a amendment from Labour MP Tonia Antoniazi. Her change to the crime and policing bill aims to end police probes into women under a Victorian law from 1861. The push came after a BBC report highlighted over 100 prosecutions in recent years for abortions outside legal limits. Lawmakers want to stop treating women as criminals for ending pregnancies, especially early ones. Opponents like Conservative Pierre Berenes-Munkton called it a radical shift without public demand, warning of risks to safeguards around the 24-week limit. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mollily, agreed, saying it could undermine protections for life. Supporters point it to vulnerable women facing abuse, arguing old rules help abusers, more than survivors. By a vote of 185 to 148, peers rejected an effort to scrap the decriminalization.

1:05They also turned down a push for mandatory in-person doctor visits before home abortion pills for pregnancies under 10 weeks, a rule made permanent in 2022. Both pro-life and pro-choice groups rallied outside with signs, showing deep divides. As the bill moves forward, it marks a big step toward modernizing reproductive laws in the UK.