A woman’s testimony has highlighted the need for safeguards from coerced abortion which is a “serious form of domestic abuse”, according to SPUC. Speaking to a Spanish pro-life organisation, Tatiana described how she was 22 years old when her husband coerced her into having an abortion.

Michael Robinson, SPUC Director of Communications said: “Testimonies such as these highlight just how vital it is to safeguard women against coerced abortion, which is a serious form of domestic abuse. The governments new DIY home abortion regulations have abandoned vulnerable women to the power of abusive men.”

Tatiana’s Story: “My husband said that I had to have an abortion”

Tatiana said: “I was 22 years old and had a young son, my oldest son was four years old. My husband said that my sons were too young, so that I had to have an abortion.  I obeyed, without thinking twice, because I was so in love. I felt insecure and I didn't want him to leave me.

“We were married, nothing was missing and it was a really silly decision. He asked me to do it and I just did it….

“My husband did not come with me, I went alone with my friend, I took a taxi afterwards and returned to my house, while my husband was at a party. My brain made the decision to block all that memory.”

Tatiana continued: “When I met the Christian pro-life association, Aesvida, and I began to hear about the consequences of an abortion, I realised that I had become an angry woman. You are not aware of where it comes from, but then I understood it… I did not care for my other children, I did not like to hold their hands, I never gave them a hug. Now they are older and I want to hug them, but they are used to their mom not touching them.

“One day, talking to a woman, she told me that she had aborted but she did not feel anything. You may not feel it now, but one day you will understand, maybe after 20 or 30 years. Everything will come out and you will discover that many of the things that were happening in your life, were because of the abortion.”

DIY home abortion regulations facilitate coercion and abuse

SPUC have highlighted how the government’s new DIY home abortion regulations help to facilitate coerced abortion, a serious form of domestic abuse, by  enabling abusive men to get hold  of abortion drugs under false pretences.

The DIY home abortion scheme  means that women can get chemical abortion drugs following a  phone or video call. Women are  left to perform their own abortion at home without medical supervision or support. 

Under the DIY abortion scheme women do not have the opportunity to meet a doctor in person, and the abortion drugs  are delivered through the post.

Mr Robinson added: “Home abortions facilitate a serious form of domestic violence by opening the opportunity for unchecked coercion from abusive men and an opportunity for abusers to cover their tracks. The Government has handed vicious men the power to abuse women in one of the worst possible way.

“A WHO multi-country study of women’s health and domestic violence found that women with a history of intimate partner violence had increased odds of unintended pregnancy and almost three times the risk of abortion. The UK government’s permission for DIY home abortions throws women at risk to the wolves.”

More Information on SPUC’s public health campaign to protect women from DIY home abortions during the COVID-19 lockdown can be found here