--- title: Life issues date: 2021-04-07T11:33:00+01:00 author: Tim Coysh canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/life-issues" section: Pages --- Every life matters. In complex and emotional situations, especially those that happen at the beginning or end of life, it is important to recognise the dignity and value of all the lives involved. But often in our public conversations, lives are pitted against each other, where one life is privileged or dismissed over the other. Therefore, we advocate for laws centred on human dignity and which seek to protect the lives, health and wellbeing of unborn children, parents, the vulnerable and the elderly. In the UK, since the 1967 Abortion Act, there have been more than eight million abortions in England and Wales. In England and Wales, for every three children born in 2019, one was aborted. In the last 10 years in England and Wales, out of almost two million abortions, only four were recorded as for the purposes of ​‘to save the life of the mother’. We stand with women and unborn children calling for world-leading support, adequate services and better care than abortion. Every abortion ends a human life, women are harmed by abortion, and we believe that both women and unborn children deserve better. Where assisted suicide or euthanasia has been legalised safeguards are often quickly eroded. In Oregon in the US, for Instance, 55 per cent of those requesting assisted suicide cited fear of being a burden as influencing their decision. In the Netherlands, thousands of patients have been killed who did not request it, disabled babies have been given lethal injections and depressed 12 year olds have been helped to end their lives. The Evangelical Alliance works to see the current law against assisted suicide and euthanasia protected, because if either become an option for patients, the ​‘right to die’ could quickly become a ​‘duty to die’ for those who feel they are a burden. From beginning to end, human life has immeasurable value no matter what a person may offer as judged by society’s standards. When human life and dignity are at stake, this is about more than a private choice; it is of community and public interest. Fundamentally, we want to preserve life, protecting human dignity and what it means to be created in God’s likeness. *“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” – Psalm 139:13 – 16* [ ![Both Lives](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Untitled design 83](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Untitled-design-83.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/both-lives) [#### Both Lives ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/both-lives) A pro-women and pro-life movement – imagining a people and place that values the life and health of women and unborn children, and pursues the wellbeing of both [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/both-lives) [](https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/initiatives/both-lives) [ ![Changes to abortion and criminal law put women and unborn children at risk](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Baby in hospital](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/aditya-romansa-5zp0jym2w9M-unsplash_2020-12-15-161749.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/changes-to-abortion-and-criminal-law-put-women-and-unborn-children-at-risk) [#### Changes to abortion and criminal law put women and unborn children at risk ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/changes-to-abortion-and-criminal-law-put-women-and-unborn-children-at-risk) MPs are seeking to hijack the Criminal Justice Bill and introduce two new clauses that would effectively decriminalise abortion in England and Wales. [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 18 December 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/changes-to-abortion-and-criminal-law-put-women-and-unborn-children-at-risk) [ ![Why we must oppose assisted dying proposals in Scotland](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Patty brito Y 3 Dt0us7e0 unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/patty-brito-Y-3Dt0us7e0-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scotland-why-we-must-oppose-assisted-dying-proposals-in-scotland) [#### Why we must oppose assisted dying proposals in Scotland ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scotland-why-we-must-oppose-assisted-dying-proposals-in-scotland) Good intentions are not enough when it comes to policymaking for life and death [ ![Matthew Holden](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/matthew-holden) [ Matthew Holden ](/author/matthew-holden) 11 July 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/scotland-why-we-must-oppose-assisted-dying-proposals-in-scotland) [ ![Assisted Dying Inquiry: important things you need to know](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![portcullis house wilson room](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/230816_portcullis-house_wilson-room_elspeth-keep_cos02496.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/important-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-assisted-dying-inquiry) [#### Assisted Dying Inquiry: important things you need to know ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/important-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-assisted-dying-inquiry) In our response to an inquiry by the Health and Social Care Committee, we encouraged MPs to prioritise improving palliative care, instead of legalising assisted suicide [ ![Nicola Martin](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/nicola-martin) [ Nicola Martin ](/author/nicola-martin) 13 March 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/important-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-assisted-dying-inquiry) [ ![Abortion buffer zones – why we must continue to speak out](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![A picture of mother and baby (use for Public Order Bill)](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/pexels-pixabay-415824.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/abortion-buffer-zones-why-we-must-continue-to-speak-out) [#### Abortion buffer zones – why we must continue to speak out ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/abortion-buffer-zones-why-we-must-continue-to-speak-out) Buffer zones restrict pro-life campaigners' ability to support women. If this policy is implemented, it would be another victory for the abortion lobby. [ ![Alicia Edmund](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/alicia-edmund) [ Alicia Edmund ](/author/alicia-edmund) 06 February 2023 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/abortion-buffer-zones-why-we-must-continue-to-speak-out) [ ![Neither apocalypse nor silver bullet](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Adam szuscik zu e J Eh MFEU unsplash 1](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/adam-szuscik-zu-eJEhMFEU-unsplash-1.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/neither-apocalypse-nor-silver-bullet) [#### Neither apocalypse nor silver bullet ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/neither-apocalypse-nor-silver-bullet) The US supreme court leak has sent shockwaves across the Atlantic, but why, and what does it mean for the abortion debate here in the UK? [ ![Dawn McAvoy](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/dawn-mcavoy) [ Dawn McAvoy ](/author/dawn-mcavoy) 05 May 2022 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/neither-apocalypse-nor-silver-bullet) [ ![Assisted suicide would lead to more suffering, not less](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Hush naidoo jade photography yo01 Z 9 HQ Aw unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/hush-naidoo-jade-photography-yo01Z-9HQAw-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/assisted-suicide-would-lead-to-more-suffering-not-less) [#### Assisted suicide would lead to more suffering, not less ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/assisted-suicide-would-lead-to-more-suffering-not-less) We’re encouraging our members to make their views known to the Scottish Parliament on this important issue [ ![Shanley McConnell](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/shanley-mcconnell) [ Shanley McConnell ](/author/shanley-mcconnell) 17 December 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/assisted-suicide-would-lead-to-more-suffering-not-less) [ ![When a full life sentence isn't enough](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Alexandre debieve H Re D Vli WJ7 U unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/alexandre-debieve-HReDVliWJ7U-unsplash.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/when-a-full-life-sentence-isnt-enough) [#### When a full life sentence isn't enough ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/when-a-full-life-sentence-isnt-enough) Violence against women has been in the news again, and while there's much the government should be doing, I want the church to step up too [ ![Bekah Legg](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/bekah-legg) [ Bekah Legg ](/author/bekah-legg) 06 October 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/when-a-full-life-sentence-isnt-enough) [ ![Campaigners push to remove all safeguards on abortion](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Baby in hospital](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/aditya-romansa-5zp0jym2w9M-unsplash_2020-12-15-161749.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/campaigners-push-to-remove-all-safeguards-on-abortion) [#### Campaigners push to remove all safeguards on abortion ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/campaigners-push-to-remove-all-safeguards-on-abortion) Have your say on last-minute extreme attempts to allow abortion up to birth [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 01 July 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/campaigners-push-to-remove-all-safeguards-on-abortion) [ ![New plans to allow assisted dying must be strongly opposed](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Elderly people in chairs](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/elderly-people-in-chairs.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/new-plans-to-allow-assisted-dying-must-be-strongly-opposed) [#### New plans to allow assisted dying must be strongly opposed ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/new-plans-to-allow-assisted-dying-must-be-strongly-opposed) Plans will be introduced into parliament to permit assisting a terminally ill person to die [ ![Danny Webster](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/danny-webster) [ Danny Webster ](/author/danny-webster) 27 May 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/new-plans-to-allow-assisted-dying-must-be-strongly-opposed) [ ![Respond to the Government’s consultation on early medical abortion](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Baby hands and adult hands](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/baby-hands-and-adult-hands.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/respond-to-the-governments-consultation-on-early-medical-abortion) [#### Respond to the Government’s consultation on early medical abortion ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/respond-to-the-governments-consultation-on-early-medical-abortion) Respond to the Government’s consultation on home use of both pills for early medical abortion up to 10 weeks gestation 20 January 2021 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/respond-to-the-governments-consultation-on-early-medical-abortion)