Women in Northern Ireland are still living under Victorian laws created at a time of workhouses and child labour, despite publication of guidelines on abortion, it was claimed today.
Audrey Simpson, director of the Family Planning Association which has been campaigning for the guidelines since 2001, welcomed their issuing to health professionals.
But she said: "Foetal abnormality still isn't considered grounds for abortion here.
"Consequently Northern Ireland women are living under a prehistoric Victorian law created at a time of workhouses and child labour.
"This law has devastating effects on women's mental, physical health and wellbeing. It is completely at odds with progressive healthcare and discriminates between women in Northern Ireland and women in the rest of the UK."
The guidance to the medical profession about abortion in the province and issued by the Department of Health has prevented it being held in contempt of court.
It finally complies with a ruling made by the High Court in Belfast five years ago.
Abortion is illegal in Northern Ireland unless the mother's life is at risk and political parties on all sides have turned their face against any liberalisation of the law.
The guidance changes nothing but does provide clarity for those working in health professions.
The Guidance on the Termination of Pregnancy was issued by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer in recent days to Health Service professionals without any fanfare or publicity.
A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "This guidance was produced in compliance with an order of the Court of Appeal following a Judicial Review by the Family Planning Association and has been approved by the Northern Ireland Executive.
"All parties to the Judicial Review were advised in writing of the imminent publication of the guidance on the Department's website."
She said the purpose of producing the guidance was to clarify the existing law on abortion in Northern Ireland and to provide "good practice guidance" for health professionals working in the area .
"They had indicated a strong need for the guidance and were anxious for it to be published as soon as possible."
The matter was taken to the Executive by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey prior to publication and the largest party — the DUP — voted against.
Junior Minister and Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson said there had been concerns among his party colleagues about some issues.
"Some of these issues were resolved , there were some that remain unresolved and for that reason our ministers voted against the guidelines at the Executive," he said.
Mr Donaldson insisted the guidelines were not the beginning of a process which would see progressive easing of restrictions on abortion.
"That is not going to happen, and the political parties are very clear about that. We will not be liberalising the law on abortion here."
Indeed the Department made clear it could not alter the law at the present time even if it wanted to.
Along with policing, criminal justice is a reserved matter still handled by the Westminster parliament and that leaves London in charge of any abortion law changes.
"The guidance cannot propose that termination of pregnancy should be available on a wider or a more restricted basis," said the Department of Health spokeswoman.
PA