Women prosecuted for abortions hail ‘historic day’ after receiving pardon
Why This Matters
Key context: <p>Calls for government to issue formal apology to those investigated after ending pregnancies in England and Wales</p><p>Campaigners and women previously convicted of illegal abortions have hailed a “historic day” after the pardoning of every woman who has faced criminal investigation for ending a pregnancy during the last 150 years.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/17/law-pardon-women-convicted-abortions-passes-uk-parliament">A vote in the House of Lords</a> earlier this year introduced legislation to pardon women accused of terminating their own pregnancies outside the legal framework and expunge their criminal records, under section 242 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which takes effect on Monday.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/15/women-pardoned-abortion-england-wales">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
Calls for government to issue formal apology to those investigated after ending pregnancies in England and WalesCampaigners and women previously convicted of illegal abortions have hailed a “historic day” after the pardoning of every woman who has faced criminal investigation for ending a pregnancy during the last 150 years.A vote in the House of Lords earlier this year introduced legislation to pardon women accused of terminating their own pregnancies outside the legal framework and expunge their criminal records, under section 242 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which takes effect on Monday. Continue reading...
Curation & Context
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