50th Anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act – 27 October 2017

Published: 27 October 2017

Brook joins with friends and colleagues across the world of sexual and reproductive health to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Abortion Act. This landmark law eradicated deaths and injuries from back street and self-induced abortion in Great Britain. It also played a critical role in bringing forward the legislation that made free contraception an entitlement for all women. 

Brook provides vital education, information, advice and treatment to young people under 25 on all aspects of sexual and reproductive health including pregnancy choices. Latest ONS figures show that the 2016 abortion rate in England and Wales was highest for young women aged 22, which further demonstrates the importance of specialist young people’s services like Brook. 

Lisa Hallgarten, Policy Manager for Brook, says:

“Abortion is an essential part of sexual and reproductive health care but 50 years on we still have a job to do combatting the stigma that surrounds what is a common and safe procedure.

“In this 50th anniversary year Brook is proud to join those calling for law, policy and practice to reflect women’s lives and medical advances in abortion care; and to remove remaining barriers to abortion access that impact most on vulnerable people such as those under 25.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, British Medical Association, and Royal College of Midwives have all called for abortion to be taken out of the criminal law (decriminalisation) and to be provided in line with other medical procedures.

A range of free downloadable resources are available from Brook’s website to support education about abortion.

Notes

Abortion is very well regulated and extremely safe, and decriminalising abortion would affect this. As with all medical procedures it would continue to be subject to regulation and delivered in line with agreed professional standards.

Decriminalising abortion would ensure that no woman accessing an abortion could be subject to criminal prosecution or imprisonment.

Abortion procedures over the past 50 years have changed significantly. In 1967 legal abortions were carried out using invasive surgical methods under general anaesthetic. Today the majority of abortions are carried out using medication.

For media enquiries please contact Brook's press office on 07789 682831 or email press@brook.org.uk

Notes to editors

Brook believes that young people should have access to great sexual health services and wellbeing support.

Brook provides free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and education programmes, reaching nearly 235,000 young people nationwide every year.
 
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