Your World of Legal Intelligence
 United Kingdom | +44 (0) 20 7284 8080

We're human too! Down's protesters launch court fight over abortion law

Document Cited authorities 1 Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date07 July 2021
Heidi Crowter, 26, is bringing legal action over a ruling that allows the abortion of babies with the condition up until birth.

She is fighting the Department of Health and Social Care in the hope of removing a section of the Abortion Act she believes to be an "instance of inequality".

Ms Crowter, from Coventry, said: "I am someone who has Down's syndrome and I find it extremely offensive that a law doesn't respect my life, and I won't stand for it.

"I want to change the law and I want to challenge people's perception of Down's syndrome. I want them to look at me and say, 'This is just a normal person.'

"That's what this is about. It's about telling people that we're just humans with feelings."

In England,Wales and Scotland there is a 24-week time limit on having an abortion.

But terminations can be allowed up until birth if there is "a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped", which includes Down's syndrome.

At a two-day High Court hearing that began yesterday, lawyers on behalf of Ms Crowter argued the law is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, and therefore unlawfully discriminatory.

A demonstration was held outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of the landmark case, during which dozens of people held banners, some of which read: "Love doesn't count chromosomes."

Maire Lea-Wilson, 33, whose son Aidan has Down's syndrome, is also...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT