Theresa May told to act on ‘confusion and fear’ caused by Northern Ireland's abortion ban

MPs criticise failure to respond to United Nations ruling – more than a year ago – of ‘grave’ and ‘systematic’ breaches of women's rights

Theresa May must act now to loosen Northern Ireland’s ultra-strict abortion laws which are spreading “confusion and fear”, MPs warn today.

The prime minister is strongly criticised for failing to respond to a United Nations ruling – more than a year ago – that the effective ban amounts to a “grave” and “systematic” breach of women's rights.

The UK Supreme Court also highlighted a breach of human rights in relation to cases of fatal foetal abnormality, or where the pregnancy has resulted from rape or incest.

Ms May has been accused of putting its position, propped up by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), ahead of “the victims of domestic violence”, by failing to act.

In January, Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland secretary, sparked anger by refusing to intervene – despite the Commons passing guidance requiring her to take into account “human rights obligations”.

Now a hard-hitting report by the women and equalities committee has demanded a timetable to address the breaches, amid the failure to restore power-sharing in Belfast.

“The lack of clarity about the current legal situation is creating confusion, fear and inequality,” said Maria Miller, the committee’s Conservative chairwoman.

She added: “The situation of a woman or girl who became pregnant as a result of rape or incest having to pursue a court case highlights precisely why it should not depend on an individual victim to take a case to court. This must be rectified urgently.”

Stella Creasy, the Labour MP who has led pressure for action, told The Independent: “This report proves what we've been saying all along.

“This government can't hide behind devolution to defend denying the women of Northern Ireland their basic human rights because they want to please the DUP.

“It's been two years since Stormont sat, it's been 50 years since women and girls in Northern Ireland got left behind by the Abortion Act 1967. It’s time to end this injustice.”

The committee also found that the absence of a Northern Ireland Assembly prevented any scrutiny of the use of UK government funds for women and girls seeking an abortion in England.

It recommended that the government equalities office publish its legal advice on the scheme, to ensure healthcare professionals know that referring patients is not unlawful.

Ms Miller said: “We heard of doctors facing a potential conflict between their duty of care to their patients and the law, and between their duty of confidentiality and the law.

“They still have not been given guidance on referring women to the UK government-funded scheme providing free abortions in England – which started in 2017. This must be published immediately.

“In practice, the scheme is more accessible to some women than others, with problems for women on low incomes, or who are too ill to travel, who are facing domestic violence and abuse, have insecure immigration status, or who are not registered with a GP.”

Abortion is only permitted in Northern Ireland when there is a risk to the life of the mother, or a serious risk to her physical or mental health.