Abortion Rights – Amnesty International

Case Study: Northern Ireland

Louise* was in a relationship with a man she had been with for three years when she fell pregnant for the first time. Louise told Amnesty that, despite always knowing she wanted to have children, the relationship she was in was unsafe.  

“Throughout the early days of my pregnancy I experienced abuse, physical and mental, and when my then partner physically assaulted me, leaving with me injuries, I knew that I couldn’t go through with the pregnancy. It was unsafe for me and any future child to be in this environment.” Louise* 

Despite abortion being decriminalized in Northern Ireland, Louise was unable to access abortion services, as she lives in a remote village. Travelling to England, where there is better access to abortion, was not an option due to costs. Louise decided to obtain abortion pills online and self-administer an abortion, which is illegal in many countries around the world, including Northern Ireland.  

“I felt like I had no choice. It would cost over two hundred pounds to go to England, and then I would have had to explain why I was travelling there. I couldn’t access an abortion through my local healthcare clinic as the village is so small, I was worried someone would find out. I bought pills online and self-administered an abortion at home, which was a terrifying, isolating and painful experience.” 

For people in Northern Ireland like Louise, abortion is a lifesaving procedure that can ensure they can live with dignity and autonomy over themselves and their futures.   

“I look forward to having a child one day, in a time and place in which I feel safe to do so. Had I been forced to continue with the pregnancy at that time, I fear myself or the child may have ended up in a very dangerous situation.” 

*Name changed to protect identity