Today, in an overwhelming vote, TUC Congress called for an end to anti-abortion attacks on women’s fundamental rights and for improved access to abortion services including rights for women in Northern Ireland.

Anti-abortion attempts in parliament to lower the abortion time limit were defeated in May 2008 following intensive pro-choice campaigning particularly by trade unionists. Women’s abortion rights are due to be hotly debated again in Parliament this autumn in the final stages of the government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. A number of amendments have been tabled for the Report stage of the Bill by MPs on both sides of the debate.

Today’s TUC motion condemned anti-abortion amendments including attempts to ‘impose a ‘cooling off’ period and compulsory counselling’ for women, arguing that they would have ‘appalling consequences for women seeking abortion and assume women are not capable of making their own decision’.

The motion supports pro-choice amendments to improve legal rights for women arguing that ‘abortion should be legally available at the request of the woman and the requirement that two doctors agree to her decision should be ended.’ The motion called for ‘the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland’.

Today, Lorene Fabian, chair TUC Women’s Conference 2008, in moving the motion said: “83 per cent, yes that’s right, a massive 83 per cent of the British public believe in a woman’s right to choose. . . One in three women workers will have an abortion at some point in their lives . . . MPs must hear the strength of pro-choice feeling ahead of the vote from our members and from our leadership”.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "The TUC sees the right of women to have control of their own bodies, including when and whether they have a baby, as a basic human right. We will campaign to improve women's reproductive rights."

Louise Hutchins, Abortion Rights Campaign Coordinator, said: “The TUC’s strong stand today against further anti-abortion attacks and in support of improved rights for women is an indicator of the determination of the pro-choice movement ahead of further votes in parliament this autumn. The TUC’s position is in line with the Government’s stated health agenda for improved sexual health and patient-centred care in service delivery. Improving the law would bring it into line with public expectations, and with the law in other European countries with more successful sexual health outcomes. We hope MPs will listen to the TUC when they vote in Parliament this autumn.”

For further information and interviews please phone Abortion Rights 020 7923 9792

Notes to editors

• Today’s decision came as a result of a motion submitted to Congress by the TUC Women’s Conference.

• The TUC motion is available at www.abortionrights.org.uk/news

• Debate on abortion law is being taken as part of the government’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. The vote on 20 May 2008 at Committee stage overwhelmingly rejected the move to lower the abortion time limit. Amendments are being tabled for the Report stage of the Bill by both sides of the debate. For the Abortion Rights briefing on the Amendments please visit www.abortionrights.co.uk