Court docket to listen to problem to UK’s Down syndrome abortion legislation in July

Crowter, 25, from Coventry, West Midlands said: “The law says babies should not be aborted until birth. However, if a baby is found to have Down syndrome, it can be aborted until birth. This is the current UK law and I don’t think it’s fair. “

“People like me are considered ‘severely disabled’, but I think the use of that term for a clause in the abortion law is so out of date.”

She continued: “The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recently stated that the UK should amend its abortion law to ensure that people like me are not singled out for our disabilities, but the government has not changed the law. “

“Last year I and other members of the Down syndrome community tried to get rid of the law clause and now our case will soon be heard in the High Court.”

“I hope we win. People shouldn’t be treated differently because of their disabilities, it’s downright discrimination.”

Lea-Wilson, 32, of Brentford, west London, said she is pursuing the joint lawsuit with Crowter for one simple reason.

“As a mother, I will do everything I can to ensure that my son Aidan is treated fairly and fairly,” she said.

“Over the past year since joining, it has become increasingly clear to me that Section 1 (1) (d) of the Abortion Act, which differentiates the deadline for abortion, sets the tone for discriminating against people with Down syndrome that begins before theirs Birth and continues for life with devastating consequences “

Aidan was only diagnosed with Down syndrome in the 34th week of pregnancy. He was born two weeks later. Lea-Wilson has said that she was offered the option to abort her son three times after he was diagnosed.

She said, “I am thrilled to hear that the case will go to court on July 6-7, and I hope this is the time we all stand up for equality.”

The High Court date comes weeks after the Northern Ireland Assembly voted for law to restrict abortion due to non-fatal disability.

The Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion Act (Amendment) was passed 48-12 in its second reading on March 15th.

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The law, introduced by Paul Givan, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, would remove “serious fetal harm” as an exception to the country’s abortion laws.

Under the UK Government-imposed Abortion Act, which came into force in March 2020, an unborn child diagnosed with a condition such as Down syndrome or a cleft palate can be aborted beyond the legal limit of 24 weeks.

Commenting on the High Court challenge, Lynn Murray, spokeswoman for Don’t Screen Us Out, said, “By finding disability is a cause of dismissal, Section 1 (1) (d) of the Abortion Act promotes inequality.”

“The provision in the Abortion Act goes back to a time when we thought it was better for people with disabilities not to be part of our society. We are a far more advanced society now, we recognize diversity is healthy, and all of our laws should reflect this. “