UK Data Sparks Renewed Calls to Ban Sex‑Selective Abortion

A new debate has opened in the UK after fresh data and official statements reignited concerns about sex‑selective abortion and the guidance offered by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), the country’s largest abortion provider.

BPAS has long argued that sex‑selective abortion is not explicitly prohibited under the Abortion Act if a woman qualifies under one of the existing legal grounds. However, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has repeatedly stated that ending a pregnancy because of the baby’s sex alone is illegal. In 2014, the Department issued clear guidance confirming that gender is not a lawful ground for abortion, and following a new report in December, a DHSC spokesman again warned that performing an abortion for this reason is a criminal offence.

The renewed scrutiny follows a DHSC analysis showing a statistically significant imbalance in the birth ratio of boys to girls among babies born to Indian parents in Britain. The report estimates that around 400 girls may have been sex‑selectively aborted between 2017 and 2021. Pro‑life groups say the findings point to a hidden but serious problem.

BPAS have been criticised for presenting information that could normalise sex‑selective abortion, calling into question whether the Government should withdraw public funding. 

In the British Parliament, Baroness Eaton has tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to clearly outlaw sex‑selective abortion. She warned that proposed changes to decriminalise abortion at any stage could make it easier for women to carry out sex‑selective abortions at home without oversight.

The emerging data and conflicting interpretations of the law highlight an urgent need for stronger protections against Sex‑Selective Abortion.