Rape and Abortion

Rape is one of the conditions in which abortion is legal in the UK. It is deemed necessary to allow women the choice of an abortion because their mental and/or physical health could be at serious risk if they were forced to keep the child of the rapist.

This is a view generally accepted by the British populace, religious leaders, and politicians. However, there is still considerable opposition to rape as grounds for abortion.

Not the Fault of the Child

One of the most pervasive and persuasive arguments against rape being grounds for abortion is that it would unduly punish and destroy what would otherwise be a healthy foetus. Abortion is legal in cases of foetal abnormality and this is much less contentious in general opinion. In cases of rape, the foetus has the same chance of foetal abnormality as any other, so some people oppose the destruction of a baby that if it were not for the circumstances of its conception, would be welcomed into the world.

The legal counter to this argument is that because carrying the baby to term would be so traumatic to the mother that it could pose a significant risk to her long-term mental or physical health, on human rights grounds she should be given the option to abort. The reality that many women will seek abortions in cases of rape, regardless of its legality, make the availability of abortion a practical necessity.

Stigma

There is still enormous stigma surrounding rape. A child born of rape faces possible discrimination and almost certainly a lot of soul searching and confusion about their nature as they get to the point where they can understand how they came to be conceived. A mother might be reminded every day of the rape by their child and this could cause significant distress. There are always adoption services, but as with all aspects of rape, there are no good answers. Most would argue that these reasons are not reasonable grounds for aborting a foetus; the child grown will most likely be grateful for their existence.

Rights of the Father

The rapist is still the father of that foetus and some people argue that they should still have a say in what happens to it, like any other pregnancy. This is not currently supported by UK law.

Proving Rape

In order to obtain an abortion for rape, the woman does not need to have made a complaint to the police. If the doctor presiding over the case is satisfied that a rape has indeed occurred after examining the woman and that her mental or physical health were to be at risk, the abortion can proceed. The priority is the safety and wellbeing of the woman. Bringing rape cases to court usually takes over 2 years in the UK, so securing a conviction is out of the question.

Support for Women who have been Raped

Abortion clinics and hospitals all have trained specialists who know how to deal best with cases of rape. There is immediate medical support offered, like emergency contraception and whatever treatment the woman needs for her body to recover.

In the long term, there are dozens of rape survivors groups across the UK who offer expert advice, support, and guidance for people who have been the victims of rape.

Organisations like Rape Crisis offer immediate and long-term support. They understand how difficult it is to come forward and talk about such a traumatic event and will help you on every step of the way to recovery and compensation.

Compensation

If you are seeking compensation after being raped, you will need to make a formal complaint to the police. This may involve testifying in court or to a prosecution team about your ordeal. This process is made as easy as possible but can still be difficult. Only when the rapist has been convicted can you access compensation but you can make the application before the outcome of the case.

As we are not lawyers you should get the appropriate advice but there is generally a 2 year limit for rape compensation claims after the incident or when you reported it to the police with adults, it is different if the victim was under the age of 18. Because it is so difficult to come forward and talk about rape, there can be considerable leeway in these rules.

Claiming compensation is your right. Exercising your right can help you get the counselling and help you need to put this traumatic event behind you and build a new life. Nobody has to be defined by what someone else does to them.

Moving Forward

Whether you seek an abortion in the case of rape or not, moving forward with your life will not be easy. The majority of people are able to leave what happened to them behind and move on with their life, this is partly due to the enormous support and assistance there is available for people who have been raped.

Making a decision about whether to abort a foetus conceived by rape is an extraordinarily difficult ethical choice. With the help of your doctor, friends, and family, you should be able to make the right choice for you.