The Human Rights Commission has been granted leave to pursue a judicial review of abortion law in Northern Ireland.
The commission’s application was granted at the High Court in Belfast.
It is seeking a change to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest or “serious malformation” of a foetus.
At present, abortion is only legal if a woman’s life is at risk or if there is a risk of permanent or serious damage to her mental or physical health.
The situation differs from the rest of the UK, because the 1967 Abortion Act has never been extended to Northern Ireland.
Stormont’s Department of Justice (DoJ) has recently consulted the public on proposed changes to abortion law, asking if it should be allowed in other limited circumstances.
Source: BBC