Belfast City Council to celebrate the ‘slaughter’ of unborn children

Belfast City Council has voted to illuminate City Hall in celebration of so-called ‘International Safe Abortion Day’, despite public opposition.

The pro-abortion campaign pushes for decriminalisation up to birth and the abolition of mandatory reflection periods.

The Alliance Party’s motion to mark the day was voted through without debate, and a subsequent attempt to block it was defeated by 36 to 18 votes. But over 18,000 people have signed a petition against the display, with the council receiving 750 email complaints.

‘Terrible evil’

The Christian Institute’s Deputy Director Simon Calvert said: “The language of ‘safe abortion’ is exactly the kind of misdirection and corruption of language that we’ve become used to from the abortion lobby. It is not at all ‘safe’ for the baby.

“Why don’t they ever talk about the baby? The reason is they know abortion is a terrible evil and they are seeking to hide that reality from themselves. We must pray for a softening of hearts towards the unborn.”

Michael Robinson of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children added: “The slaughter of children is not an issue that unites Belfast, and it is a disgrace that public money is being used to pretend it does.

“Belfast should be united for life and for the most innocent in society.”

Outcry

Bernadette Smyth, Founder and Director of pro-life group Precious Life, highlighted that public opposition to the plans was “further demonstrated by a Belfast Live poll in which 98% of respondents voted NO to the proposed illumination”.

“Yet despite this overwhelming public opposition, Belfast City Council has chosen to proceed. This is not democracy at its best.

“It is a Council choosing to ignore the voices of thousands of its own citizens.”

Thousands

In December, it was revealed that the number of abortions in Northern Ireland had reached its highest level since the law was liberalised in 2020.

Statistics from the Department of Health documented 2,899 abortions between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. This was a 3.7 per cent rise from the previous year and 84 per cent higher than in 2021.

Since Westminster’s liberal abortion regime was introduced in 2020, 11,192 abortions have been carried out in the Province.