Uk Abortion Law

Introduction

The United Nations together with its Member States considers children as those under the age of eighteen. (UNICEF, 2006) Therefore, the laws protecting the rights of the child applies to the groups mentioned above. The extent to which children have rights in the abortion laws and arrangements will be reviewed under prospects. The first perspective is with regard to the rights of the unborn child and the second is related to parental involvement in abortion for minors. The laws will be compared to abortion laws in other countries and also the effect of the European Union will be included.

How are the rights of the unborn are protected by laws on abortion

The United Kingdom is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child held in the month of December of 1991. The Convention provides the basis for the protection of child rights in all Member States. (Every Child Matters, 2008)

The agreement provides that all children have the right to life. This raises a vital question, a fetus can be considered a child? The United Kingdom recognizes that viable fetuses who have exceeded twenty-four weeks. (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2004) Therefore, the Abortion Act 1967 allows abortion before the pregnancy has reached what is stipulated times. In relation to this, the United Kingdom allows abortion in cases where the unborn child will affect the health of his mother both physically and mentally. By providing such a restriction, the right of an unborn child to life is protected because mothers can not discontinue their pregnancy for minor reasons. This ensures that the rights of unborn children are protected in the manner to be viable.

The abortion law of 1967 also provides that abortions should be performed after obtaining the consent of two doctors. (Abortion rights, 2007) The purpose of this provision is to continue to ensure that abortions are only performed in extreme conditions and that the best interests of children are protected before they are even born. However, some human rights groups as the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said that these laws are not enough to protect the unborn child. They argue that all abortions should be illegal across the repeal of abortion instruments relevant to women in the United Kingdom today. (Arthur, 2007)

Experts agree that the abortion laws in the United Kingdom are very serious for women, but to protect the unborn through its restrictions. Compared to other countries in this field, unborn children have priority over women. In countries like Turkey, Austria, France and Norway, abortions are allowed on request by women. This is something that does not occur in the United Kingdom. In the former countries mentioned, the unborn are not considered a priority. The State has the right to protect children, which can be extended to those born in particular those in the stages of pregnancy.

Parental involvement for minors

Current laws of the United Kingdom have guidelines which stipulate that pregnant girls under eighteen years of age may perform abortions on themselves without parental involvement. (Kerril, 2007) Doctors are also required to maintain the confidentiality of these girls and confidentiality. However, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments should respect the rights of the child to a nationality, name and family ties, even. In addition, the Convention stipulates that;

"Governments should respect the rights and responsibilities of families to direct and guide their children so that as they grow older, they learn to use those rights properly." (UNICEF, 2006)

Arguably, the current guidelines on parental involvement in abortions performed on minors in the United Ki.