 Practised in all historic periods – in England acceptable until after ‘quickening’  Became more restrictive in UK 19 century ◦ 1837 abolished distinction between before and after quickening ◦ 1861 Offences against the person act – performing an abortion or self abortion life imprisonment ◦ 1929 Infant Life Preservation Act: this created a new crime of killing a viable fetus (at that time fixed at 28 weeks)

 1967 The Abortion Act legalising abortion under certain conditions Time limits reduced from 28 to 24 weeks  In US in 1965 abortion (unless the life of mother in danger) illegal in all states – after this date began to break down  1973 Supreme Court Roe v Wade access to abortion in early pregnancy a women’s right

 Campaign based on a ‘women’s right to choose’  Many European countries adopted this position for early stages of pregnancy most commonly 10 weeks

 Three referenda – 1983, 1992 and 2002  "The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.  "This subsection shall not limit freedom to travel between the State and another state.  "This subsection shall not limit freedom to obtain or make available, in the State, subject to such conditions as may be laid down by law, information relating to services lawfully available in another state."

 Very divisive - produces extreme views, makes debate difficult  The idea of the individual citizen on which western political thought, liberal democracy is based – is a problem for abortion debates  Abortion can be presented as a conflict between two sets of rights – the women and the foetus  Illegal abortion is a major social problem globally  Especially in developing states – major cause of maternal mortality – Tanzania 30% maternity hospital cases result of illegal abortion

 Major international divisions in law on abortion, widely varying condition under which abortion can take place ◦ Absolute ban ◦ Life of the mother ◦ Physical health of the mother ◦ Mental health of the mother ◦ Socio-economic ◦ Certain non viable foetal conditions ◦ No reason – time restrictions

 Rough division of states by category/region ◦ Europe, Australia and North ◦ Communist/Socialist states, and former socialist states ◦ Latin America ◦ Africa ◦ Asia