A major political confrontation has erupted in the House of Lords as peers attempt to introduce a ban on sex-selective abortions, a move campaigners believe could derail efforts to decriminalise terminations across the UK.
The Amendment Battle
Tory peer Baroness Eaton is leading a cross-party group of lords pushing for an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that would specifically prohibit abortions based on the sex of the foetus. This represents the first attempt in UK history to explicitly outlaw such practices through legislation.
The proposed amendment comes as peers prepare for the committee stage of the bill this week, with the broader decriminalisation amendment scheduled for consideration in the coming weeks. The original decriminalisation proposal, brought by Gower Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, passed in the Commons with substantial backing of 242 votes.
Decriminalisation Under Threat
Under current law in England and Wales, abortions are permitted up to 24 weeks, but women seeking later terminations face potential prosecution. Ms Antoniazzi's amendment would remove criminal penalties for women having abortions, though critics argue it could effectively allow terminations up to full term.
Campaigners supporting decriminalisation view the sex-selective abortion ban as a 'wrecking amendment' designed to undermine their efforts. If passed, the ban could invalidate decriminalisation in cases where questions arise about the motivation for termination.
Ms Antoniazzi told The Independent: "The notion that this is remotely in the interests of vulnerable women is frankly absurd. For women themselves, the allegations around sex-selective abortion often focus on how women from some cultural backgrounds may face control and coercion from family members to end a pregnancy on the grounds of sex."
Conflicting Perspectives
Stephen Rose KC has provided legal opinion suggesting that under Ms Antoniazzi's amendment, sex-selective abortions would become legal up to nine months of pregnancy. This legal assessment has strengthened the position of those supporting Baroness Eaton's amendment.
Devi Shah, speaking for the Stop Gendercide campaign, expressed concern: "It's a heartbreaking reality that, here in the UK, many women face pressure from partners or family members to have a termination simply because they are expecting a girl. If sex-selective abortion is made legal, it will make it much more difficult for women to refuse pressure."
Critics of the original decriminalisation clause highlight that it received only 46 minutes of debate in the Commons and underwent no public consultation, committee stage scrutiny, or evidence sessions.
The controversy follows recent developments in Scotland where proposals for changing abortion law have raised similar concerns about sex-selective terminations becoming permissible.
Campaigners cite international evidence from India and China to support their position. A 2018 Indian government report estimated that 63 million women were missing from the population due to sex-selective terminations, while China has experienced birth ratios of 114 boys to 100 girls compared to the normal 105 to 100 ratio.
