The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) has launched a confidential helpline for women who induce abortions at home through illegal abortion pills.
The new service is available to women in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man, where abortion is illegal.
A spokesperson from the pro-life group Life NI said that the move is a "publicity stunt".
'Telephone aftercare'
BPAS says the phone line is for women who are concerned about symptoms after taking the abortion pills, but do not wish to call for medical assistance as they have committed a criminal offence.
Ann Furedi, Chief Executive of BPAS, said: "While we wait for politicians to do the right thing, BPAS will provide telephone aftercare to women who have bought pills online and who want to speak to someone in confidence about what they are experiencing, or who simply need a reassuring voice at the end of the line.
"We will be here for these women 24 hours a day until they no longer need us."
The Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM), which calls for the liberalisation of abortion law on the Isle of Man, issued a statement today (2 September), expressing its support for the new BPAS helpline.
Unsafe
The abortion pills, mifepristone and misoprostol, are taken together to induce a miscarriage. They work by blocking the hormone progesterone to the womb and causing contractions of the uterus.
Side effects can include heavy bleeding, infection and, on rare occasions, even death. Taking the pills without medical supervision increases the risk that the woman will experience complications.
In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said that it "would like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public not to take any prescription drugs that have not been prescribed to them.
"The taking of any prescription drug is potentially very harmful and can result in developing serious complications if used without the appropriate medical supervision".
'Publicity stunt'
Earlier this year, BPAS launched a campaign, called ‘We Trust Women’, which calls for the decriminalisation of abortion in the UK, including Northern Ireland, where abortion is only legal to save the life of the mother.
Marion Woods of the group Life NI, told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster that the helpline is "a publicity stunt".
She said that support for women needing help should be provided "within the framework of our law", and added: “How safe are these pills in the first place?”
Dawn McAvoy of the Evangelical Alliance said that the welfare of both mother and unborn child must be supported, under the law as it currently stands.
"Groups need to work together to provide the best possible care for women and children within the current law, because both lives matter," she said.
"We want Northern Ireland to continue to value the life and health of the woman and the unborn child, advancing the wellbeing of both because both lives matter."
Related Links:
Abortion: Controversial 'helpline' set up in Northern Ireland (BBC)
New confidential helpline to advise women who buy illegal abortion pills online (Telegraph)
BPAS helpline for abortion pills - Statement from CALM (Manx)