Abortions largely remain illegal in Britain. But a new law decriminalizes the termination of pregnancies after 24 weeks in England and Wales, the biggest change to abortion laws there in decades.
Tuesday’s vote follows an increase in recent years in investigations and prosecutions of people suspected of having illegal abortions.
Abortion in England and Wales is illegal under the 1861 Offences against the Person Act; a Victorian-era law that makes abortion a criminal offense that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. That bill was written at a time when women could not vote, own property after marriage, or access higher education.
The amended 1967 Abortion Act carved out exceptions, allowing abortions at up to 24 weeks if approved by two doctors. But outside of specific criteria, it is still a criminal offense.
Tuesday’s vote will remove the criminal penalties for having an abortion, even outside of these parameters.
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