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The Westminster Parliament has voted to force the British Government to liberalize access to abortion and allow same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland if devolution is not restored.<\/p>\nThe Westminster Parliament has voted to force the British Government to liberalize access to abortion and allow same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland if devolution is not restored.<\/p>\n
Gay marriage is illegal in Northern Ireland, while terminations are only allowed in cases where a woman\u2019s life is at risk or if there is a danger of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.<\/p>\n
The changes were passed as part of measures aimed at keeping Northern Ireland public services running, two and a half years after devolved power-sharing collapsed.<\/p>\n
LGBT rights campaigner John O\u2019Doherty said: \u201cLove wins. Today that message rang out from Westminster.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing part of this historic campaign over the last eight years is the most important and affirming thing I have ever done \u2013 besides marrying my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rainbow Project director said: \u201cGrowing up in Maghera I never thought I would see a time where same sex couples would be, not only accepted, but celebrated in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s important victory is shared with our community, allies and supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n
The abortion and equal marriage commitments in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill will now become law by October 21 this year, unless the Northern Ireland Executive has been re-established by that date.<\/p>\n
The deadline for the new same-sex marriage law to come into force is January 2020, and the date by which full abortion regulations must be implemented is March 2020, with some elements happening sooner.<\/p>\n
Abortion will be decriminalized and women currently facing criminal trial will have their prosecutions dropped from October 22 this year.<\/p>\n
The issues are areas of significant dispute between the DUP and Sinn F\u00e9in, who have struggled for years to reconcile their differences and resurrect the institutions at Stormont.<\/p>\n
The DUP and religious leaders believe marriage is between a man and woman and civil partnerships are an option for same-sex couples.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in and a coalition of civic society activists believe the change is an issue of equality and human rights.<\/p>\n
Access to abortion is also a major touchstone issue in Northern Ireland, with large numbers of women travelling to Great Britain for terminations, and mass rallies for and against medical provision at home.<\/p>\n
Sarah Ewart was forced to travel for an abortion in 2013 despite her pregnancy being given a fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis. She has a case before Belfast High Court.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt\u2019s an overwhelming relief that we\u2019re finally seeing an end to the abortion law that has caused so many women like me huge amounts of pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve wanted reform and justice for so long, and now we\u2019ve got it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve spent years fighting alongside Amnesty through the courts and at Westminster, and finally our calls have been answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally, we will have the space and dignity in law to make private healthcare choices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amnesty International Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said it was a historic day for human rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cNowhere on these islands have people had to fight longer and harder for their human rights than in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cFuture generations in Northern Ireland will no longer have to suffer inequality in the way so many have had to endure in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, Amnesty\u2019s attention will focus on ensuring the speedy implementation of access to healthcare and marriage for people in Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n