CAT concluding observations 2019, paragraph 47
Plain English recommendation
Government should: Ensure that all women and girls in the UK, including Northern Ireland, can access abortions in situations where carrying on with the pregnancy is likely to cause severe pain and suffering. This should include cases where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, where the foetus has a life-threatening disability or where the health of the pregnant woman is at risk. Ensure that women and girls in Northern Ireland have effective access to post-abortion health care and that patients and doctors do not face criminal sanctions or other threats for seeking or providing such care.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that all women and girls in the State party, including in Northern Ireland, have effective access to termination of pregnancy in situations in which its continuation is likely to result in severe pain and suffering, such as when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or in cases of fatal foetal impairment, in addition to cases in which the life or health of the pregnant person is at risk. The State party should also ensure that women and girls in Northern Ireland have effective access to post-abortion health care and that neither patients nor their doctors face criminal sanctions or other threats for seeking or providing such care.
Date of UN examination
08/05/2019
UN article number
2 (prevention of torture), 16 (cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment)
Original UN document
Download the CAT concluding observations 2019 on the UN website