A group of women, including stars of comedy Derry Girls and Independent Group MP Heidi Allen, have marched on Westminster, demanding the extension of abortion rights to Northern Ireland.
The protesters arrived at the Northern Ireland Office to deliver a petition with 62,000 signatories, calling on Theresa May and Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley to extend abortion rights to Northern Ireland.
Pictures show cast members Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan alongside women impacted by Northern Ireland’s strict abortion laws.
Speaking to HuffPost UK, McSweeney said: “Myself and Nicola are here to represent the 28 women that have to travel to Northern Ireland every week to access healthcare that is unavailable to them in the north.
“We’ve done a demonstration here to hand in a petition to the secretary of state for Northern Ireland for people who want to end the draconian and Victorian laws - that only exist in Northern Ireland are some of the harshest in the world when it comes to women’s healthcare - which have been described by UN courts as a ‘violation of basic human rights’.
“The petition asks Theresa May and Karen Bradley to do their duty by the people of Northern Ireland - follow their wishes and amend this awful law.”
Coughlan added: “The support today has been absolutely incredible and, as Siobhan would say, we’re people off the telly; we shouldn’t have to be here.
“The politicians should be dealing with this issue and they’re not.
“Neither of us are from Northern Ireland but the people have been so good to us, our show has done very well there. They’ve taken us in - so the reason why we’re here is to hopefully give back to those women who are being misrepresented and treated as criminals in their own country.”
Twenty-eight women were pictured carrying suitcases across Westminster Bridge to symbolise the number of women who travel outside Northern Ireland each week for an abortion.
Each suitcase contained names of the 62,000 people who signed the petition.
The campaigners want the UK Government to intervene and make law changes in the region in the absence of devolved ministers due to the powersharing crisis at Stormont.
The 1967 Abortion Act which governs the rest of the UK was not extended to Northern Ireland.
A termination is only permitted in Northern Ireland if a woman’s life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent and serious damage to her mental or physical health.
Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland campaigns manager for Amnesty UK, told HuffPost UK: “Today we’re here handing in our 62,000-strong petition, calling on the Northern Ireland secretary of state to decriminalise abortion. Northern Ireland is now the only part of the UK and Ireland with a near-total ban on abortion - that’s unacceptable.
“Up to 28 women per week are having to travel for this healthcare service. It’s time the Northern Ireland secretary of state and the UK government paid attention to the harm being caused by our existing laws and brought about the change that’s so long overdue.
“We’re delighted to be joined by both Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan, from the Derry Girls, as well as a cross party group of MPs from Westminister. That demonstrates that there is support for change in Westminister - what we need to see is legislation urgently brought forward to enable this change.
“Really - the question is to the UK government: we know where the Northern Ireland public are on this; we know where the UK public are on this - they overwhelmingly favour change - and we know the harm that is being caused by the laws. So, why are they dragging their feet?”
Among the demonstrators were students who had flown in from Northern Ireland to participate in the action.
Hannah Orr, 20, who was part of the protest, said: “This is something I’m really passionate about. I wanted to come here and make sure our voices are being heard.
“It’s fantastic to have cross-party support from MPs, it’s fantastic to have people from Wales, Scotland and England here, as well; but I think it’s important that Northern Irish are heard.
“As a young woman, especially, it can be a scary thing to find yourself in a crisis pregnancy, as many youngsters in Belfast do. There’s nowhere to turn when they travel here for the healthcare that they need to get here; they miss class, face financial and emotional pressure and spend time catching up on deadlines.”
She added: “It’s a healthcare issue but it’s also a human rights issue. This is why Westminister need to legislate now.”
Niamh Oddy, 19, said: “I’m currently a student living in Northern Ireland. When I move there, I saw a huge repeal of my rights there.
“I firmly believe that abortion access is a human rights issue and it’s a right that should be afforded to all women, equally, across the UK including Northern Ireland.”