Abortion For Disability Is Discrimination Against The Disabled, Says Baroness Masham, UK

Main Category: Abortion
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 25 Jan 2008 - 11:00 PDT

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On Monday, 28th January, in the House of Lords, Baroness Masham, will continue her valiant battle to remove discrimination against the disabled from the Abortion Act.

It is a shameful fact, in a country claiming to have reached a high moral plateau on equality, that the disabled baby can be aborted up to birth, whereas the baby without disability has greater protection and the limit is set at 24-weeks gestation.

This appalling provision was added to the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 1990, currently in the process of Parliamentary reform, and therefore can be addressed now as part of that reform. That is exactly what Lady Masham has chosen to do; undo the terrible mischief of 1990.

Alive & Kicking fully supports Lady Masham in her courageous amendment, as do noted disability groups such as RADAR and 'Not Dead Yet'. Anybody who would oppose this amendment is endorsing discrimination against the disabled. It could not be simpler than that. We encourage all members of the House of Lords to support the Masham amendment.

It is more than time that we changed the law on abortion in the United Kingdom, and the current Bill going through Parliament gives us a welcome opportunity. Abortion rates are dropping in many countries worldwide - including the US where they are the lowest since 1974, yet in the UK they continue to rise, and we are getting close to 7 million since 1967.

The message for today has to be to make abortion rare. We must create a society where the battle is for fewer rather than more abortions, and in which abortion for disability is deemed absolutely indefensible.

A very big thank-you to Lady Masham. You have our full support.

Alive and Kicking Campaign