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Why the 24-week abortion limit matters

Analysis: Campaigners say halving the limit could have serious consequences for women

Maya Oppenheim
Women's Correspondent
Monday 10 June 2019 21:30 BST
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While only a tiny proportion of women choose to have an abortion after the 12-week mark, they are often the most vulnerable
While only a tiny proportion of women choose to have an abortion after the 12-week mark, they are often the most vulnerable

Jeremy Hunt has been criticised by politicians, campaigners and abortion providers for declaring that the time limit for having an abortion should be halved from 24 weeks to 12. But why is it so important the limit stays at 24 weeks?

While only a small proportion of women choose to have an abortion after the 12-week mark, they are often the most vulnerable. Around 8 per cent of abortions occurred between 13 and 19 weeks and just 1 per cent of abortions were carried out after 20 weeks of pregnancy in England and Wales in 2017.

Providers say women having abortions after 12 weeks are often in profoundly difficult situations such as victims of domestic abuse, women in crisis, and those from Northern Ireland who have had to travel to mainland Britain as the procedure is illegal in Ulster in almost all cases, including rape and incest.

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