"Guernsey women deserve better"

Wednesday 20 May 2020

The debate on Guernsey's abortion law, which has already been pushed back, could be delayed again.

Policy & Resources are attempting to move proposals for the law to be modernised, after it was listed for next month.

Health & Social Care originally asked that the plans be debated by the States in April.

"Dismayed that P&R have used their power to set the States' schedule to try and push back the abortion debate again,"  Deputy Emilie McSwiggan, of HSC, tweeted. "Our proposals for a fair, fit-for-purpose abortion law were published three months ago, and have been known about for over a year.

Dismayed that P&R have used their power to set the States’ schedule to try and push back the #Abortion debate again. Our proposals for a fair, fit-for-purpose abortion law were published 3 months ago, and have been known about for over a year. Guernsey women deserve better.

— Emilie (@emiliemcswiggan) May 18, 2020

"Guernsey women deserve better.

"Decisions about continuing or ending pregnancy are major, courageous decisions. Guernsey women deserve an abortion law that gives them the time to make the decision that's right for them and does not stigmatise or criminalise them. We must not put it on the 'too hard' pile."

 If approved, the proposals would remove the requirement for two doctors to approve an abortion and increase gestational limits from 12 weeks to 24 weeks, in line with the UK.

The modernisation would also remove criminal sanctions for any women who personally end or attempt to end their own pregnancy.

Unborn Guernsey women equally deserve better https://t.co/auHn8fd67f

— Jonathan Le Tocq (@letocq) May 18, 2020

The expected debate on modernising the abortion law has already raised an emotive debate among deputies and others on Twitter. 

The proposals can be read in full here.