“It was 40 years ago that the bill was passed marking the end of back-street abortions and the beginning of women’s right to choose whether or not to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. David Steel’s aim was to avoid the deaths and misery arising from illegal terminations, at a time when abortions were only legal if the mother’s life was seen to be in danger. In the first full year of the bill coming into force, there were 55,000 abortions in the UK. Today, that figure has risen to 200,000 a year. As the anniversary of the law’s introduction approaches this weekend, the debate on abortions continues. Here, we examine where the interested parties stand.”
The Guardian, 24th October 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
