On Tuesday, the British parliament made a decision to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales. This action aims to address the increasing number of women facing police investigations related to terminating pregnancies. The existing legislation, rooted in the mid-19th century, has been the basis for these investigations.
While abortion has been legal in England and Wales for nearly six decades, it is subject to specific limitations. Abortions are permitted up to 24 weeks of gestation and require the approval of two medical professionals.
Under a law originating from the Victorian era, women who choose to end a pregnancy after the 24-week mark can face criminal charges. The maximum penalty for violating this law is life imprisonment.
Although convictions under this law are uncommon in Britain, there has been a rise in prosecutions. This increase followed the COVID-19 pandemic, during which a legal change permitted abortion pills to be taken at home for pregnancies within the first ten weeks of conception.
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