Royal assent has been given to the Abortion Reform Bill.

Although it is now is an act, the legislation still needs an appointed day order before the changes can take full effect.

The Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation, which supported Dr Alex Allinson’s bill from the outset, said it ’is delighted that the Abortion Reform Bill has now passed this final hurdle and is now part of Isle of Man law’.

Under the act, abortion is permitted upon request up to 14 weeks, under specified circumstances including ’serious social grounds’ during the 15-24-week period, and in certain emergency or serious situations after 24 weeks.

Provision has also been included to create ’access zones’ around medical centres to protect women and medics from harassment.

Responding to the news, HEAR spokesperson Sue Richardson, said: ’This is a dark and sad day for the Isle of Man, as we remove the sensible and civilised protections that existed in our own 1995 law, which while imperfect was light years ahead of the situation in the adjacent island.

’We have further institutionalised injustice, inequality, and inhumanity into our laws, and the island is a profoundly less gentle and special place as a consequence.’