The UK Parliament has voted to decriminalize abortion in England and Wales, repealing sections of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act that previously criminalized the procedure.

The amendment, passed by 379 votes to 137, ensures that women can no longer face prosecution for terminating a pregnancy, although medical professionals may still be held accountable for procedures conducted beyond legal limits.

This legislative change, the most significant since the 1967 Abortion Act, aims to prevent future criminal investigations into women’s reproductive choices and brings UK law closer in line with other Western nations.