London, June 18 -- The Members of Parliament (MPs) voted on Tuesday to decriminalise abortion, which was considered a criminal offence in England and Wales.
The amendment would "disapply existing criminal law related to abortion from women acting in relation to her own pregnancy at any gestation, removing the threat of investigation, arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment."
According to the current law in England and Wales, abortion is allowed up to the first 24 weeks of pregnancy and beyond that in some circumstances. However, the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 still criminalise abortions.
The amendment would prevent women from being prosecuted but keep punishments for medical profess...