A law permitting abortion up to birth has been passed and signed into law by New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo. It is intended to ensure that New York will have an extremely liberal abortion law even if Roe v Wade is restricted or overturned. If it is overturned, each State will be allowed to decide upon its own abortion law.

The new law allows abortion after 24 weeks if there is a ‘threat’ to the health of the mother, or the unborn child is considered non-viable, whereas previously late-term abortion was allowed only if the mother’s life was thought to be at risk. The law also allows health care professionals who are not doctors to carry out abortions. It also entirely decriminalised abortion so that it is no longer a criminal felony for a doctor to execute an abortion beyond the limits of the law. Writing in National Review, Alexandra De Sanctis said that, through the law, “abortion will be available to women essentially on demand up to the point of birth.”

After the law was passed, abortion rights supporters assembled at the State Houses erupted in jubilant cheers. In New York City, the spire of the One World Trade Centre Building Empire State Building was lit up in pink in celebration.