A new campaign has been launched calling for abortion reform, to affirm the dignity and right to life of every human being on the Isle of Man.
Humanity and Equality in Abortion Reform (HEAR) is campaigning for current abortion law to be amended, to allow better care and support for pregnant women and their babies, an end to eugenic abortion, improved regulations, and stronger conscience protections.
Current Manx abortion law
The Isle of Man’s 'Termination of Pregnancy Act 1995' is the law governing abortions in the self-governing British Crown dependency.
It allows for abortion to take place on a number of grounds, such as a pregnancy arising from a criminal offence such as rape and on certain mental health grounds.
However, unlike British law it uniquely mandates a level of care for babies born alive, and that abortions after viability have been reached. Furthermore, evidence is required where the reason for abortion is a crime (i.e. rape), and a psychiatric consultant must be the independent doctor in certifying abortions on the grounds of mental health.
'Informal eugenics'
HEAR says that despite these elements, further reform is needed. It points to the Isle of Man’s sanctioning of abortion on the grounds of disability, which reflects UK law, calling it an "injustice" and an example of "informal eugenics".
Concerns have recently been raised in the UK that increased access to pre-natal screening has led to an increase in the number of abortions of children who would have been born with a minor facial deformity.
The Don’t Screen Us Out campaign is also aiming to prevent the introduction of a pre-natal screening test which could see a sharp increase in the abortion of children with Down’s syndrome.
Election issue
HEAR is not alone in calling for a change in abortion law. Rather than see abortion restrictions tightened, CALM, the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation, would like to see the law further liberalised, bringing it in line with current UK law.
CALM issued a statement earlier today (2 September), expressing its support for 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.
Speaking at HEAR’s inaugural meeting yesterday (Thursday 1 September) at the Manx Legion in Douglas, HEAR spokesman, Lord Alton of Liverpool, said:
"Abortion is far from being a CALM thing. From 18 weeks, the baby is a foot in length pumping 50 pints of blood a day; that baby is sentient - it feels pain." He added: "We need to be affirmatively for the woman and for the child, not choosing between the two."
Take action
With voters heading to the polls on 22 September, those people who are voted in as Members of the House of Keys at the General Election will be hugely important in determining how abortion reform is dealt with.
The HEAR website tells its supporters to: "Act now to write to your MHK candidates, informing them of your views on this issue, and inviting them to engage in dialogue. Please be charitable and non-confrontational. Do also forward on to us what responses you get, so that we can help others engage with their proposed representatives, and make an informed vote on 22 September!"
'Compassionate agenda for needed reform'
HEAR spokeswoman, Hannah Grove, said:
"Through our campaign, we will welcome truly calm and charitable dialogue. We aim to make sure that other islanders – and especially candidates for the House of Keys in the upcoming election – get to listen to both sides of the abortion debate, and receive the full story about the value of our native laws, the situation in Britain, and the truly compassionate agenda for needed reform.
"We call on everyone in the Isle of Man to join us in working to make sure that our island home remains a bastion and beacon of humanity and equality for all members of the Manx, and indeed human, family."
Related Links:
Abortion: Two rival campaigns target candidates before the general election (Isle of Man Today)
Why can’t women on the Isle of Man get an abortion where they live? (Guardian)
Press Release: Humanity and Equality in Abortion Reform (HEAR) campaign launched on the Isle of Man (HEAR)
Number of abortions for cleft-palate babies rises three-fold