Publications

Submission to UN CEDAW Committee’s Follow-up to Inquiry Concerning the UK of Great Britain and NI

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission had made this submission to the Working Group on Inquiries of the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in response to its call for written observations in relation to the follow-up report on its inquiry regarding access to abortion services in Northern Ireland.

Date produced August 2023.

Below is a summary of our recommendations and messages.

You can also download the full document through the links provided.

2.3 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures public and professional awareness that undergoing, providing or assisting an abortion has been decriminalised in NI.

2.4 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party takes additional steps to ensure information on abortion services in NI is accessible and communicated accurately, including by translators.

2.42 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that sufficient, long-term, ring-fenced funding is available and fully utilised to maintain consistent abortion services in line with the Abortion (NI) Regulations in every Trust area in NI. Also, that the necessary funding for abortion services is an addition to the Department of Health’s broader budget, to ensure existing healthcare services can be delivered in full.

2.43 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures abortion services in NI are fully accessible, including enabling referrals between Trust areas for all abortion services, facilitating access to services for complex cases within NI and implementing a locally-run regional central booking service.

2.44 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures telemedicine is introduced as an option for early medical abortions in NI under certain circumstances, as in other parts of the UK, and that a clear pathway to care and after care is in place for telemedicine abortions, including for individuals using unregistered sources.

2.45 The Committee may wish to clarify how best to achieve a balance between eliminating discrimination against women and the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of abortions, particularly regarding severe fetal abnormality.

2.46 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that occasions when a baby is born alive after a termination of pregnancy procedure is effectively monitored, with clear guidance for medical professionals and that the individuals involved are adequately supported.

2.47 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party takes immediate steps to ensure individuals with a diagnosis of severe fetal abnormality or fatal fetal abnormality have access to appropriate services and are adequately supported.

2.53 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that there is regional, abortion-specific, non-stereotyping guidance in NI and that all associated healthcare staff undertake related training that is informed by service users and periodically refreshed, particularly regarding conscientious objection.

2.54 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that there are sufficient third-level education places and that there are specific pathways to enable medical professionals in NI to specialise in sexual health and abortion services.

2.55 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that there is effective staff planning to ensure that sexual health and abortion services are consistently available across NI.

2.59 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that sufficient long-term, ring-fenced funding is provided to the Regional Quality Improvement Authority, or an appropriate alternative, for the purposes of ensuring that abortion services in NI are consistently monitored and reviewed at regular intervals.

2.61 The Committee may wish to provide the State Party with further guidance on how to strengthen data collection on abortion services in NI, including how such data should be disaggregated.

2.62 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that representative organisations are effectively consulted on how data on abortion services in NI is gathered, reported and monitored.

3.3 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that sufficient, long-term, ring-fenced funding is guaranteed for abortion-related counselling, including post-abortion counselling.

3.4 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that private healthcare providers are closely monitored to ensure their aims and the services that they offer are transparent and accurately communicated, with particular consideration of minority groups with specific needs.

3.6 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that consistent, accessible and effective contraception services and information are available across all Trust areas in NI, with particular consideration of rurality and utilising online pathways.

3.12 The Committee may wish to clarify whether, in its view, the provision for exemptions from relationships and sexuality education within the Education (NI) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 is compatible with its recommendations.

3.13 The Committee may wish to clarify its position on the provision of relationships and sexuality education to young people aged 16-19 years old.

3.15 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party undertakes accessible regional public awareness raising campaigns regarding sexual and reproductive health rights and services in NI.

3.16 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that a standardised, accessible approach is taken by public authorities regarding information on abortion services in NI, including online.

3.17 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that individuals and representative organisations are involved in designing and implementing awareness raising initiatives.

3.20 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party takes immediate steps to combat gender-based stereotypes regarding women’s primary roles as mothers, as an effective and comprehensive Gender Equality Strategy is awaited.

3.29 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party ensures that funding is available to establish a safe access zone in NI as necessary and that any additional costs involved are not prohibitive for voluntary sexual health clinics and any future private abortion clinic.

3.30 The Committee may wish to recommend that the State Party takes immediate steps to ensure that private property cannot be utilised to circumvent safe access zones for the purposes of protesting reproductive healthcare services.