Northern Ireland abortion laws change by midnight tonight (21 Oct)

[FeminismandWomensFights]

BBC news article says:
Abortion law: NI politicians to return to Stormont

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50115449

’NI's Stormont Assembly will sit for the first time in nearly three years after being recalled in a last-ditch attempt to stop changes to the abortion law.
Unionist parties, who oppose the upcoming liberalisation, triggered the recall with a petition. NI has been without a devolved government since January 2017 when the power-sharing parties split.
Abortion laws will change at midnight unless devolution is restored but the recall is seen as largely symbolic.
Without an executive in place, Stormont cannot affect the laws.
It is unlikely an executive will be established as it needs support from both the unionist and republican communities’.

What does ‘largely symbolic’ mean?
Is there a chance that it could stop abortion rights coming to Northern Ireland?
Women in Northern Ireland (and same sex couples) deserve better than this insulting, self-interested farce.

Link that works:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50115449

The descriptions such as "cynical political stunt" sound about right. Surely if this was a serious attempt (or if the DUP believed they could actually stop the decriminalisation) they'd have tried this much sooner.

Sinn Fein, Alliance and most SDLP MLA's aren't attending so an executive decision cannot be passed. Womens rights have been denied for far too long in NI. I hope the passing into law tonight will bring about real practical change so that women can finally access abortions. What brave clinic will be the first to offer them though I wonder ?

Let’s hope that the intervention comes to nothing and the law is passed. It’s well due time for women in NI to have this basic right

Yay! It's on the news now.
And same sex marriage.

I'm delighted that both will be legalised - it's been long overdue.

Good point about who will be the first to offer abortion though - that dreadful Bernie woman and her cronies will be outside protesting and harassing staff in the same way they did with Marie Stopes. But at least women will now be able to access terminations via medication. It angers me so much about the woman who was jailed for procuring an abortion, and I think there was a mother & daughter convicted too.

Stayaway MLAs still getting paid.

I've almost been scared to get my hopes up today in case it doesn't happen but this is amazing.

I can't believe it's actually changing.

I am delighted, about time Northern Ireland caught up with the 21st century, no more women having to “get the boat” to have safe terminations, at last they have safe choices and power over their bodies.

about time Northern Ireland caught up with the 21st century

It is... well, hopefully they've got as far as the 20th now at least.

It will go ahead- thank goodness
Abortion: NI politicians' bid to halt law changes fails
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-50115449

I am so happy for NI women. There are probably a fair few women and girls who are in an awful situation right now and have suddenly got an option.

Is it correct that the law in NI will mimic the new one in the Republic, rather than the UK, meaning it will be more liberal (is that the right word?) than the UK? Ie on-demand for any reason up to 12 weeks, whereas UK it needs doctor's approval that is for a justifiable reason?

If so, that's great for NI women. Hope UK follows suit. Although it is odd that it is the Republic's laws it will mirror.

As mentioned, the problem of who will dare put their heads above the parapet and offer services?

I have visions of portakabins just across the border with neon signs.

If what they are putting in legally is giving women abortion as part of normal medical care ie not making it conditional on two doctors saying yes before the woman can have it, then it’s great and hopefully the whole of the UK will take that model on.
I am delighted that no more Northern Irish women will have to journey to get abortions.

Excellent - so much of it down to Stella Creasy's bravery and determination

Thank you Stella Creasy. I don't agree with you on everything and I dont need to. Thank you for seizing the day and just doing this.

yes, fantastic work Stella Creasy

she's taken a lot of shit from some very unhinged people over this.

Well done to Sarah Ewart and Stella Creasy for their campaigning. As others have said, it will still be difficult accessing services I'm sure.

I am obviously really relieved that women in NI have an option now, I am happy no ones been able to thwart it politically. I find it a bit hard to celebrate it as such though, not because I am not happy for NI women but when a burning injustice like this is finally righted, all that misogynistic control of women (in this instance at least) now needing to be retold only in the history textbooks is where we should be- no longer happening in all-too-real life.
its a bit of a wierd feeling to know it’s coming to an end. Feeling relief but also just anger still at the unfairness heaped on women and how NI and GB’s politicians have cynically done fuck all to help them for so long. It is very sobering how women are reliant on political support for just the very basics. Stella Creasy for her part though.
On the other hand I know it’s really important to celebrate wins so everyone who has fought for this over the years. to all women affected by this directly.

I wonder how the practicalities will work out now.

I think in the rest of the UK there's more antenatal checks done as standard than here. I wonder if they'll be available now or if it'll stay as it is.

What do you mean Flavia?

On the mainland do they do more checks other than the 12 and 20 week scans, or are the tests they do at that time more comprehensive?

One of my friends has posted a photo of a 22 week old baby in an incubator stating that in NI it will now be legal to kill that baby (taken from SPUC funnily enough). She now has a black page as her profile photo.

Fine she doesn’t believe is abortions, she doesn’t have one but don’t tell any other woman what she can or can’t do with her body. Funny how they cry about killing babies yet say nothing about children being brought up neglected and abused. Forget about them once they are born.

I’m vegan I don’t post photos of pigs being slaughtered on FB it’s not the place for it IMHO. I don’t share my views every 5 minutes, either your a vegan or your not. My friend accused of caring more for animals than dead babies.

The waiting lists in NI for surgery are 2-3 years, many people are in a lot of pain and die whilst being on those waiting lists.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49509002

Would be great if all those protesting and the MLAs showed some care and made the same effort to improve life for those on the lists, but that doesn't suit their bigoted beliefs!

Nigella I asked about Downs Syndrome during my scans for DS2 and they said they don't check for that here. Any heart problems would be picked up I suppose but as far as I know, in the rest of the UK they get told the likelihood and it's actively looked for.

Whatever the decision you make, it's good to have the knowledge to prepare anyway.

sweetkitty I wonder how your friend would react if you put up a photo of a woman dead from sepsis, or from a home-attempt gone wrong?