• UK lawmakers have voted to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales.
• The vote addresses concerns over the prosecution of women for terminating pregnancies.
• The amendment passed by a significant margin of 379 to 137 votes.
• Women will no longer face criminal charges for abortions at any term.
• This reform marks the most significant change to abortion legislation in nearly 60 years.

On June 17, 2025, the UK Parliament voted to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales as part of a broader crime bill. This move aims to prevent women from being criminally prosecuted under an outdated Victorian-era law, which had resulted in over 100 investigations of women, including cases of natural miscarriages, according to Reuters, Los Angeles Times, and Al Jazeera.

The House of Commons approved the amendment with a vote of 379 to 137. This amendment will ensure that women are no longer punishable criminally for ending a pregnancy, regardless of the term. Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who introduced the amendment, emphasized that "this piece of legislation will only take women out of the criminal justice system because they are vulnerable and they need our help," as reported by The Jakarta Post and NPR.

Historically, women in the UK have faced severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment for abortions conducted after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Despite the rarity of such prosecutions, recent legal actions against women, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, intensified calls for change. Nicola Packer, who was acquitted after using abortion pills while 26 weeks pregnant, exemplifies the sort of cases that prompted this legislative response, according to CBS News and NPR.

The proposal's implementation signifies a significant shift in women's reproductive rights, paralleling movements in other Western nations towards more liberal abortion policies, as indicated by Antoniazzi's assertion that the change reflects a need for care and support rather than criminalization. However, some critics argue that the new law does not fully address the prosecution of medical professionals aiding women in accessing abortions, highlighting discussions in the legislature that may yet bring forth further amendments, according to Los Angeles Times and Al Jazeera.