Taryn Trainor, Unite Equalities Officer

One thousand women from Northern Ireland travel to Britain to get a termination

January 7th: Responding to a statement by incoming First Minister, Arlene Foster, that she would not be supporting the extension of the abortion rights to women in Northern Ireland, Unite Equality Officer, Taryn Trainor, called on Ministers in the NI Executive to act to protect the rights of women:

“The High Court recently ruled that that those sections of the current abortion legislation in Northern Ireland relating to fatal foetal abnormality and sexual crime are incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees protections to women in regard to their right to private and family life.

“While Unite welcomes the fact that the NI Executive has indicated its willingness to act and ensure compliance with these protections, we are very disappointed to hear that the incoming First Minister, the first woman in this position, has stated that she will oppose women here being afforded the same levels of protections, human rights and NHS services as in other parts of the United Kingdom.

“It is estimated that one thousand women from Northern Ireland travel to Britain each year to receive a termination. Too many women cannot afford the cost to travel, migrant women have travel restrictions, single mothers have caring responsibilities, disabled women have issues and many sick pregnant women are unable to travel.

“We have to address this issue for ourselves – we cannot continue to outsource this issue to private healthcare clinics in other parts of the United Kingdom to deal with. Unite remains committed to campaigning alongside other progressive groups to demand abortion provision in Northern Ireland that protects and respects women’s lives, health and choices”, Ms Trainor concluded.