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The Right to Abortion

This weekend thousands of people marched on the White House in support of a woman鈥檚 right to choose an abortion. That constitutional principle, established nearly 50 years ago in the case of 鈥淩oe v Wade鈥� has just been overturned by the US Supreme Court and already many Republican states have banned abortions. As President Biden moves to try to protect abortion rights, campaigners in the UK have been stirred to action. There have been 鈥楶ro Life鈥� demonstrations outside clinics in Northern Ireland and 鈥楶ro Choice鈥� protests outside the US Embassy in London.

The number of abortions in England and Wales last year, more than 214,000, was the highest recorded since 1967, when a new law allowed, in most cases, terminations up to the 24th week of pregnancy. This also applied to Scotland but was only extended to Northern Ireland two years ago. Public opinion is clear: 85% of people in Britain think women should have the right to abortion. But should rights also be afforded to the unborn, and if so, at what stage of pregnancy? Has anyone the moral right to dictate whether a woman can have an abortion? For many women, 鈥渕y body 鈥� my choice鈥� is a fundamental principle. With Madeline Page, Professor Ellie Lee, Professor John Milbank and Kerry Abel.

Producers: Jonathan Hallewell and Peter Everett
Presenter: Michael Buerk