Members of Britain’s Parliament have given their backing to a plan for fast-tracked legislation to outlaw gender-based abortion which normally targets female foetuses.
Amid debate and uncertainty on the issue of gender-based terminations under the terms of current legislation, specifically the 1967 Abortion Act, 73 MPs have supported a proposed amedment to the Serious crime Bil, set to become law before the British general election this May.
As matters currently stand, pro-choice supporters argue that the 1967 Act is ‘silent’ on the subject of abortions based on gender selection, thereby offering legal protection to doctors undertaking such terminations. Members of Parliament have, however, argued to the contrary, and, when a motion to declare the practice illegal was tabled in Parliament last November, it garnered massive support from legislators.
Commenting on the move to now enshrine the abortion restriction in law, Conservative MP Fiona Bruce, who proposed the amendment arising from her November motion, said: “It is my hope that my colleagues in the Commons will agree that urgent action needs to be taken, and vote in favour of my amendment when the time comes.”
Bruce added: “The time has come to face up to the truth, sex-selctive abortion is a reality in the UK. We can no longer ignore it.”
Gender-based abortion has grown as an issue in Britain in the years since the 1967 Act based on its accepted practice among some migrant communities to the country where male children are valued over females in keeping with cultural practices in their native countries.
Meanwhile, in the United States, legislators have backed a Bill to tighten restrictions on abortion provision there.
As pro-life supporters marched in Washington on the 42nd anniversray of the Roe v Wade case, which legalised abortion in America, the House of Representatives voted by 242-179 votes to ban taxpayer funding for abortions. A Bill to ban abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy was shelved amid fears that it would alienate women voters.
The White House has signalled that it will veto the Bill on taxpayers’ funding if it successfully passes through the Senate.
