Abortion is a practical reality for many young women. In 2003, there were 1,023 abortions performed on 14-year-olds in England and Wales. There were 148 carried out on young women under 14, and more than 37,000 on young women aged 15 to 19. So do not assume that young people's knowledge and experience is all abstract or in the future.
They may have had closer contact than many adults think.
The main political issue at the moment is the stage of pregnancy at which abortions are allowed. It is legal to have abortions until week 24 of pregnancy. Conservative leader Michael Howard has said he would vote for a reduction to 22 and even to 20 weeks. Ask young people about their views.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
