A rape survivor is urging MHKs to back abortion law reform.

Douglas woman Deborah McCann was raped at knifepoint when she was 17.

Last week the House of Keys passed the second reading of the Abortion Reform Bill. But it will be a long time before the Bill becomes law.

Next it will go to the clauses stage of legislation, when MHKs will look in detail at the wording of the Bill.

Deborah said: ’We need to take the whole trauma, stigma and shame out of, not just being a rape survivor, but also from people who make the very difficult choice - but it is their choice - to have an abortion.

’Abortion should just be purely a matter of health care.’

Deborah lived in England at the time of her attack and, when she later realised she was pregnant, had an abortion.

She was horrified to discover that, under current island law, a rape victim is only permitted an abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and must have a sworn affidavit attesting to the assault.

Due to a medical condition, Deborah had no idea she was pregnant in the first weeks after the attack. Under Manx law, by the time she realised, she would not have been allowed to have an abortion in the island.

She said she was appalled by that, arguing that it implies that, if a woman does not report a rape or sexual assault, the assault and any subsequent pregnancy is her ’total responsibility’.

’Anyone who is of that opinion really needs to examine their conscience - and their soul as well.’

After she spoke out for the first time, Deborah joined the Campaign for Abortion Law Modernisation (CALM).

The current Isle of Man law means terminations are allowed only up to 24 weeks where it is necessary to preserve the woman’s life, the foetus is unlikely to survive or is seriously handicapped, or within 12 weeks of conception if the pregnancy is caused by rape, incest or indecent assault.

Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson’s Abortion Law Reform Bill aims to allow abortion upon request up to 14 weeks, and permit it where there is a serious medical risk, or serious social grounds, up to 24 weeks.

’I am fully supportive of Dr Allinson’s bill,’ said Deborah, aged 54.

’It fully takes on board all pertinent issues, including responses in the consultation, both from those who are pro-choice, but also the pro-life groups as well.

’It is an incredibly well-drafted, comprehensive piece of legislation.’

Deborah said no woman would ever take the decision to terminate a pregnancy lightly. Dr Allinson’s bill would lead to more counselling and better information. That, in turn, could lead to fewer women in the island choosing to have an abortion.