Submission to the Northern Ireland Assembly Justice Committee proposed amendment

Amnesty International's Submission to the Northern Ireland Assembly Justice Committee on Jim Wells' proposed amendment to the Justice Bill.

This Submission sets out Amnesty International’s concerns and recommendations on the proposed amendment to the Justice Bill, urging its rejection, and calling for the removal of barriers to safe abortion and women’s access to comprehensive, rights‑based healthcare in Northern Ireland.

1. Amnesty International recommends this amendment is rejected in its entirety, including the proposed limitation of abortion provision to NHS services alone, and that the NI Assembly and Executive act to ensure that existing barriers to women accessing safe abortion services, including a lack of guidance on the termination of pregnancy for medical professionals, are removed.
2. Amnesty International further recommends that the NI Assembly and Executive place a gender perspective at the centre of all legislation, policies and programmes affecting women’s health and involve women in the planning, implementation and monitoring of such legislation, policies and programmes and in the provision of health services to women.
3. Ensure the removal of all barriers to women's access to health services, education and information, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health.
4. Prioritise the prevention of unwanted pregnancy through family planning and sex education and reduce maternal mortality rates through safe motherhood services and pre-natal assistance. When possible, legislation criminalising abortion could be amended to remove punitive provisions imposed on women who undergo abortion.
5. Require all health services to be consistent with the human rights of women, including the rights to autonomy, privacy, confidentiality, informed consent and choice.