Written submission from a member of the public (ANI0674)

1) DEVOLUTION
We in Northern Ireland have the right to decide and not have it imposed on us by English mps who do not have the best interests of women of NI at heart. Most women in NI do NOT want this - just the ones who shout the loudest.

2) DISTINCTIVE LAW AND CULTURE
It has been estimated that 100,000 are alive because we did not adopt the 1967 abortion act. This has been verified by the advertising standards agency.

In a place like NI we probably all know at least one of those - our friends - our spouses!

3) HUMAN RIGHTS & EQUALITY
I also believe that the women’s and equality committee are misrepresenting the UN stance on this matter. They are citing a report from a non elected body within the UN who have their own agenda. Read it properly - you have a responsibility not to force laws on NI against our will and not to create bad law because of a tiny minority of cases. Women and children in NI deserve better.

4) PERSONAL STORIES
I have a friend who’s life has been wrecked because she had an abortion in England. She was convinced that it would solve the problem of her telling her parents. She is haunted - she has suicidal thoughts and the guilt of it wrecked her subsequent marriage and effected her fertility. Her twins would be [age] now - here in NI they would have had a chance and their mum would have had a better story too.

November 2018