By Olatunbosun Obafemi
In a historic decision, the British Parliament on Tuesday voted to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales, overturning a centuries-old law that had placed women at risk of prosecution under outdated legal codes.
The move marks a significant change in the country’s reproductive rights landscape, coming amid a surge in police investigations into women who terminated pregnancies outside the legal framework set by the 1967 Abortion Act. That law allowed abortions up to 24 weeks of gestation, but still required the approval of two doctors and operated under the shadow of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, which carried the threat of life imprisonment for women who ended pregnancies outside those conditions.
Campaigners have long argued that the Victorian-era law was not only draconian but also incompatible with modern healthcare practices and women’s rights. Although rarely enforced in full, its existence enabled a growing number of criminal investigations in recent years, particularly as more women accessed abortion medication online, sometimes beyond the 24-week limit.
The vote in Parliament effectively removes criminal penalties for women who have abortions, treating the issue as a matter of healthcare rather than criminal law. Healthcare providers involved in unlawful or unsafe practices may still face professional or regulatory consequences, but the women themselves will no longer risk arrest or prosecution.
Lawmakers backing the reform hailed it as a long-overdue correction to a law that had disproportionately affected vulnerable women. “This vote brings us into the 21st century,” said one MP. “It puts compassion and medical ethics at the centre of our abortion laws.”
Opponents of the reform voiced concerns about the potential for an increase in late-term abortions and the weakening of safeguards. However, supporters emphasized that existing clinical guidelines and gestational limits would remain in place, with abortion after 24 weeks still subject to strict medical criteria.
Medical and legal professionals widely welcomed the change, saying it brings clarity to an area of law that had long been considered ambiguous and punitive. Human rights groups called it a milestone for bodily autonomy and reproductive justice.
Tuesday’s vote places England and Wales closer in line with recent reforms in Northern Ireland and Scotland, where abortion laws have also undergone significant liberalisation.
While the debate over abortion is far from settled in the UK, the decriminalisation vote signals a decisive step away from criminal punishment and toward a health-centred approach. For thousands of women and healthcare providers, the decision brings long-sought reassurance and relief.
