THE number of women from Ireland, North and South, seekingabortions in England has fallen for the ninth successive year, butit is feared this is because online abortions are on the increase.
More than 5,500 women travelled across the Irish Sea to Englandfor an abortion last year, including 1,101 women from NorthernIreland.
The statistics released by the Department of Health for Englandand Wales show the number of women travelling for an abortion fromNorthern Ireland has fallen in recent years, down from 1,123 in2009.
The number of abortions for non-resident women in England andWales -- the vast majority of whom are from Ireland, North andSouth, has fallen to its lowest level since 1969.
While this decline was welcomed by pro-life campaigners whooppose legalising abortion in Northern Ireland, pro-choicecampaigners argue these statistics do not show the full picture.
There are many other women who go to Scotland or further afieldin Europe for an abortion and there is an unknown number of womenwho obtain tablets over the internet to terminate a pregnancy.
Dr Audrey Simpson, director of the Family Planning Association(FPA) Northern Ireland, said: "This is an underestimate of the womenwho are forced to leave Northern Ireland to get an abortion.
"These statistics show that criminalising abortion does not stopwomen having abortions.
"It is time for politicians to bring Northern Ireland into the21st century and provide women with the same health care servicesthat are free and available in the rest of the UK."
The 1967 Abortion Act applies only in England, Scotland andWales, making it virtually impossible for women in Northern Irelandto obtain an abortion on the NHS.
However, none of the political parties in Northern Irelandofficially support a woman's right to have an abortion and there isjust one openly pro-choice Assembly Member at Stormont, Alliance MLAAnna Lo.
"It is a very sensitive issue and I support the pro-choicecampaign as an individual MLA, it is not our party's policy," Ms Losaid.
"Unplanned pregnancies are a reality in every society.
"People need to be pragmatic about it and less hypocritical," MsLo added.
However, pro-life group Precious Life said the decline in womentravelling to England for an abortion shows "the pro-life battle isbeing won in Ireland".
Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth, said: "Even oneabortion is one too many but we welcome the fact that 22 fewerNorthern Ireland babies have been killed by abortion in England.
"This is proof that our strategies and campaigns are working.
Ms Smyth said the statistics were "encouraging" and added: "Thisfurther reduction in the number of abortions gives us another reasonto celebrate the 'All-Ireland Rally for Life', which will be held inDublin on July 2."
FACTFILE
Northern Ireland is the only country in the UK where abortion isillegal. The earlier 1861 Offences Against the Person Act and theCriminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 are the main pieces oflegislation which still lay down the law on abortion. In NorthernIreland, abortion is only permitted in exceptional circumstances,such as for rape and incest victims or in cases where the foetus isdiagnosed disabled. Around 80 abortions are permitted on the NHS inNorthern Ireland each year. The number of women from Ireland, northand south, seeking an abortion in England has fallen for the ninthsuccessive year.
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