同性婚と中絶の権利、北アイルランドにも拡大

【ベルファストＡＦＰ＝時事】英国で22日、同性婚と人工妊娠中絶に関する権利が北アイルランドにも拡大された。英本土に沿った画期的な動きだが、怒りの声も上がっている。（写真は英国・北アイルランドのベルファストにある議会前でデモをする中絶容認派の活動家ら）
　英議会は７月、北アイルランドでの中絶解禁を承認し、合法的に中絶医療を受けられるようにするとともに、同性間で婚姻関係や法的に承認されたパートナー関係を結ぶことを認めていた。
　これは、英国の他の地方とおおむね同じ規定を施行するための措置で、北アイルランド議会による修正の期限は１０月２１日とされた。２０１７年１月に解散したままとなっていた同議会は２１日に一時的に再開されたものの、野党の支持が得られず、英議会が可決した改正案に修正を加えることはできなかった。
　北アイルランド以外のイングランド、ウェールズ、スコットランドでは、すでに中絶と同性婚は合法化されている。
　英国のジュリアン・スミス北アイルランド相は英下院で、中絶を禁止する法律は２２日午前０時（日本時間同８時）に廃止され、刑事訴追は一時停止されると言明。また、同性間のパートナー関係を認める規定の概要を来年１月１３日までに示すと述べ、「これにより、遅くとも２０２０年のバレンタインデーの週までに一例目の同性間の民事婚が行われる」と説明した。
　北アイルランド議会での審議の出席者は、中絶に反対する民主統一党（ＤＵＰ）の所属議員がほとんどだった。主要野党シン・フェイン党の議員が欠席する中、北アイルランドの権力分担を定めた法律に基づいて自治政府を発足させることはできず、立法措置は実現しなかった。
　議場を出たＤＵＰのアーリーン・フォスター党首は「とても悲しい日だ」と述べた。「今日という日を祝おうという人たちがいるのは知っている。そんな人たちに『今日という日を悲しみ、これは人間の尊厳と人間の生命を侮辱するものだと信じている私たちのことも考えてほしい』と言いたい」
　シン・フェイン党のミシェル・オニール副党首は、ＤＵＰが主導した北アイルランド議会の一時再開は「人気取り」で、「政治制度への一般の人の信用をさらに失墜させるだけだ」と述べた。さらに「ＤＵＰが初めて議会を開いたのは、私たちの社会の権利の一部分を否定するためだったことを一般の人たちは知っている」と述べ、今回の権利拡大を歓迎した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/10/23-08:57）

Same-sex marriage and abortion laws in Northern Ireland were liberalised on Monday in a landmark shift for the province aimed at bringing it into line with mainland Britain but which has stoked resentment.
The relaxtion of the UK-ruled territory's restrictive laws on the issues occurred at midnight (2300 GMT), after a deadline elapsed for local lawmakers to stop the changes imposed by MPs in Westminster.
British lawmakers in July approved decriminalising abortion and creating lawful access to abortion services, as well as rolling out new regulations to allow same-sex marriage and civil partnerships.
They gave Northern 's assembly -- suspended since January 2017 -- until October 21 to institute alterations to the reforms, which will see the province broadly match the rest of Britain.
Abortion and same-sex marriage are legal in England, Wales and Scotland.
The assembly was briefly restored on Monday, but without support from opposition parties, they were unable to constitute an executive and pass any changes.
At midnight history will be made, Grainne Teggart, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland campaign manager, said on Monday hours before the deadline.
This is a hugely significant moment and the beginning of a new era for Northern Ireland -- one in which we're free from oppressive laws that have policed our bodies and healthcare.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Julian Smith told parliament the law forbidding abortions would be repealed at midnight and there will be a moratorium on criminal prosecutions.
A new legal framework for lawful access to abortion services in Northern Ireland will be put in place by 31st March 2020, he said.
Meanwhile, regulations for same-sex partnership will be outlined by January 13.
This means at the latest, the first civil same-sex marriages will take place on the week of Valentine's Day 2020, Smith added.

- 'Stunt' politics -
The Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who returned to the chamber of devolved government at Stormont were predominantly from the anti-abortion Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
Without participation from the main opposition party Sinn Fein, they could not form an executive under the region's power-sharing laws.
It is a very sad day, DUP leader Arlene Foster told reporters after leaving the chamber.
I know some people will seek to celebrate today and I would say to those people: 'Think of those of us who are sad today and who believe that this is an affront to human dignity and to human life.'
Pressure has been growing in traditionally conservative Northern Ireland for its abortion law to be relaxed, in particular following the landslide 2018 referendum to repeal the abortion ban in the Republic of Ireland.
Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill called the DUP-led reconvening of the assembly a stunt.
She said it achieved nothing other than to bring the political institutions into further disrepute and further undermine public confidence.
It is not lost on the public that the first time the DUP recalled the assembly was yet another attempt to deny a section of our community rights, she added, welcoming the reforms.

- Celebratory scenes -
Outside Stormont protestors gathered Monday -- some backing the MLAs in their bid to avert the change, others condemning it.
Around 150 anti-abortion protesters spent the morning and afternoon singing and praying with placards reading Not in my name.
It was the Westminster government who forced in legislation, said Bernadette Smyth, director of pro-life Precious Life Northern Ireland.
This is undemocratic and it's wrong. So it's important that we're here today to be a voice for the vulnerable -- unborn children in our society.
A boisterous crowd of some 150 pro-choice campaigners were also present, unfurling banners and chanting What do we want? The right to chose. When do we want it? Now.
Danielle Roberts, an activist with Alliance for Choice, said human rights have always been the responsibility of Westminster.
There have been repeated calls for Westminster to act and finally they've actually done their duty, she told AFP.
Among the crowd, some were also keen to voice their support for the new same-sex marriage provisions.
Chef Jane Peaker, 24, attended holding the hand of her partner Meg. The pair got engaged over the summer.
I think that we're happy that it's happened, but maybe not so happy that it hasn't come from our government, she said.
But I think it's a victory nonetheless.
Peaker said the pair would like to marry on February 14 - Velentine's Day and likely the earliest possible date.