Lawmakers voted 379 to 137 to end prosecutions of women for ending pregnancies. Abortions have been legal in England and Wales for nearly 60 years, but only up until 24 weeks and with two doctors’ approvals.

Women choosing to end a pregnancy after that could face criminal charges and up to life in prison.
While criminal charges for breaking the law are rare, they've risen since the pandemic when a change in the law allowed abortion pills to be taken at home within 10 weeks of conception.

Tonia Antoniazzi, a Labour Member of Parliament’s who proposed the amendment, said the current law had been used to investigate 100 women in the last five years. That included some women who had given birth prematurely or had been forced into abortions by abusive partners.

The proposal to decriminalize abortion could still change or be rejected as its part of a bigger bill going through parliament. If passed, it would bring the abortion laws in England and Wales in line with other Western countries including France, Canada and Australia. Some politicians warned the amendment was rushed and could have unintended effects.

--Reuters--