The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has launched a judicial review against the Northern Ireland Secretary over the lack of abortion services available in NI.

Last year, Westminster imposed extreme abortion laws on Northern Ireland, despite the fact it is a devolved policy issue.

Abortion is now available up to 12 weeks for any reason, up to 24 weeks for most reasons and all the way up to birth for disabilities.

Following the restoration of the Assembly in 2020, MLAs voted in favour of a motion rejecting the Westminster imposition of abortion laws.

At the moment, one of NI’s five NHS hospital trusts is without early medical abortion services and this is because a doctor went on maternity leave.

The NI Human Rights commission has said this is unacceptable and accused the NI Secretary, Brandon Lewis of unlawfully denying women access to an abortion.

The Commission is also taking legal action against the Northern Ireland Executive and the Department of Health for ‘failing to commission and fund abortion services.”