Following last week’s referendum in the Republic of Ireland, in which voters overwhelmingly supported the legalisation of abortion, the pressure is now on Prime Minister Theresa May to allow free, safe and legal access to abortion in Northern Ireland.
While some argue that abortion is a devolved matter, responsibility for upholding human rights across the United Kingdom rests with the UK Government in Westminster. Given the absence of a Government in Northern Ireland to redress this violation of women’s rights, it is the UK Government’s responsibility to act.