Although abortion has been legal in Britain for 40 years, women still need the approval of two doctors before they can access the procedure. Today a significant majority (67 per cent) of doctors at the British Medical Association (BMA) voted in favour of 'amending legislation so that first trimester abortion would be available on the same basis of informed consent as other treatment and therefore without the need for two doctors signatures'. 73 per cent agreed that this should have no impact on the availability of later abortion.

This comes at a time when 77 per cent of British citizens support a woman's right to choose an abortion in the first three months of pregnancy - illustrating how strong the pro-choice majority remains in the UK(i).

Anne Quesney, Director of Abortion Rights said:

'Abortion Rights is delighted that the BMA voted in favour of liberalising the 1967 Abortion Act whilst re-affirming their unflinching support for the 24-week time limit. This year we celebrate 40 years of safe, legal abortion in Britain and thousands of women's lives saved but legislation continues to be amongst the most restrictive in Europe and the time has come for that to change.

In March this year, Abortion Rights launched its campaign to liberalise British abortion law and secure better access to services for the 1 in 3 women who will need an abortion in their lifetime(ii).

The campaign, which is backed by many MPs, peers, doctors, nurses, sexual health organisations, trade unions, artists and students, is calling for:
Abortion to be available at the request of the woman, at least in the first three months of pregnancy.(iii)

An end to unacceptable delays in service provision

An end to minority anti-choice attacks on current abortion rights

Notes

The Abortion Act requires that two doctors must agree that the risk to a woman's physical or mental health, or the risk to her children's physical or mental health will be greater, if she continues with the pregnancy than if she ends it. This applies up until 24 weeks' gestation. This Act does not apply in Northern Ireland.

Having an abortion poses fewer medical risks than going through pregnancy and birth, for most women. See the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' (RCOG) website for more details.

The RCOG also state that 'At least one-third of British women will have had an abortion by the time they reach the age of 45' (see p1, 'Care of women requesting induced abortion', Evidence-based Guideline Number 7, Sept 2004).

Abortion statistics - In 2006, for women resident in England and Wales:

the total number of abortions was 193,700
89% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation; 68% were at under 10 weeks
medical abortions accounted for 30% of the total compared with 24% in 2005

Abortion across Europe

Across most of Europe - Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland - women have access to abortion on request in the first three months of pregnancy. In Sweden abortion is available at the request of the woman in the first 18 weeks of pregnancy. "Abortion on request" does not require the consent of doctors - and leaves this very personal decision in the hands of individual women.
Abortion is severely restricted in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Poland and Portugal. But last month the Portuguese government pledged to legalise abortion following majority vote in a national referendum.

Figures indicate that more liberal legislation - allowing abortion at the request of women - combined with comprehensive sex and relationships education in schools, better access to contraception and, a choice of abortion methods, increases earlier access:

Netherlands < 8 weeks 77% (2002)
Finland < 8 weeks 56% (2002)
Germany < 8 weeks 46% (2003)
Sweden < 8 weeks 44% (2002)
Sweden < 10 weeks 79% (2002)
England/Wales < 10 weeks 67% (2002)

Doctors agree that where safe, legal abortion is not available, women's lives are at risk. Worldwide 68,000 women die each year after unsafe abortion, according to the World Health Organisation. Many thousands of others are left with severe long-term health problems as a consequence.

i GFK/NOP Poll commissioned by Abortion Rights and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust in March 2007

Poll results

'Do you think that women should or should not have the right to choose and abortion in the first three months of pregnancy?'

77 per cent agree
17 per cent disagreed
6 per cent did not know.

'Do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable that a woman who has been referred for an abortion should have to wait beyond three weeks for the procedure?'

72 per cent said it was not acceptable
17 per cent said it was acceptable
7 per cent said that they did not know.

In addition, only three per cent stated that 'under no circumstances would it be acceptable to have an abortion'.

ii According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) at least one-third of British women will have had an abortion by the time they reach the age of 45.

iii The 1967 Abortion Act requires that two doctors must agree that the risk to a woman's physical or mental health, or the risk to her children's physical or mental health will be greater if she continues with the pregnancy than if she ends it. This applies up until 24 weeks' gestation. This Act does not apply in Northern Ireland.

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