Member's statement: Abortion
Member's statement by Ms Diane Forsythe on .
- MLA
- Ms Diane Forsythe
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 18 February 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Abortion
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4806109
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Every life matters. From the moment that a baby is formed in its mother's womb, that is a life. From the moment that a woman finds out that she is pregnant, she has a baby. She knows her due date, what age the baby will be at its first Christmas and its first summer and when it will go to school. When that pregnancy ends in loss, it brings utter devastation. Across the Chamber, that was acknowledged in the cross-party support for the introduction of baby loss certificates in Northern Ireland. Every baby matters. Every life should be recognised and its loss mourned. The latest abortion statistics for Northern Ireland therefore cause me deep concern. They show that there has been a 28·8% increase in the number of abortions carried out in the past year.
In 2023-24, 2,792 abortions were performed. That is 624 more than the previous year's total of 2,168. Those are not just statistics: each number represents a precious life lost — a child who will never have the chance to take their first breath and a mother who is left to bear the lifelong impact of the decision. For so many across Northern Ireland, it is a cause of profound grief and heartbreak to learn of the scale of abortion here. It is my firm belief that we in Northern Ireland remain a majority pro-life people, as evidenced by the most recent Northern Ireland Office consultation, in which the voice of the people clearly rejected the imposition of Westminster's extreme abortion laws here. We continue to work with like-minded people to explore what more the Department of Health can do to repeal the legislation, which was forced on us by Westminster, and to introduce life-affirming laws and strategies. The battle to win hearts and minds for the sanctity of life must and will continue. We must ensure that women who face crisis pregnancies are met with real support and life-affirming choices rather than with a system that too often leads them down the path of abortion. This month marks one year since the organisation Both Lives relaunched with a refreshed brand and a UK-wide presence. That organisation campaigns on the values of the life and health of women and unborn children and pursues the well-being of both. Every birthday is a celebration of the gift of life, yet, each year, across the UK, due to abortion, hundreds of thousands of women and babies will never experience a birthday. That reality drives us all forward with renewed purpose and commitment. We stand together with people from every background and of all faiths and none. We stand for a life-affirming culture and the recognition and protection of every human life. Every life matters.
455 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.