I was coerced into undergoing a surgical abortion against my will at four months pregnant by an abusive ex-partner who has faced no legal consequences. It was a devastating violation of my bodily autonomy that has left me living with permanent psychological trauma, grief, and the lifelong consequences of a decision forced through fear, coercive control, and psychological abuse.

No one should have their reproductive choices taken away from them.

Reproductive coercion is a serious but often overlooked form of domestic abuse. It is a pattern of behaviour used to control another person’s reproductive autonomy and can have life-changing, and in some cases life-threatening, consequences.

It can include:

• Coercing or forcing someone to continue or end a pregnancy against their wishes.
• Pregnancy coercion, including pressure, manipulation, threats or abuse to become pregnant.
• Sabotaging contraception by hiding, destroying or interfering with birth control.
• Stealthing (non-consensual condom removal).
• Refusing to use contraception as a form of control.
• Tampering with fertility treatment or medication.
• Forcing or coercing sterilisation or preventing someone from accessing fertility care.
• Controlling access to abortion, contraception, pregnancy care or other reproductive healthcare.
• Using threats, intimidation, financial abuse, emotional abuse or violence to control reproductive decisions.

These behaviours are not simply relationship conflict. They are violations of bodily autonomy, human rights and informed consent.

Although aspects of reproductive coercion may sometimes fall within existing offences, UK law does not explicitly recognise reproductive coercion as a standalone criminal offence. As a result, many victims are not identified, professionals often lack awareness, safeguarding opportunities are missed, and perpetrators frequently avoid accountability.

We need the law to recognise reproductive coercion for what it is: a distinct and serious form of abuse.

This petition calls on the UK Government to:

• Create a standalone criminal offence of reproductive coercion, recognising it as a specific form of abuse and violence.
• Introduce a clear statutory definition of reproductive coercion to improve recognition, investigation and prosecution.
• Make education and training on reproductive coercion mandatory for police, healthcare professionals, social workers, safeguarding teams, educators and the wider criminal justice system.
• Strengthen safeguarding pathways so victims are identified earlier and receive appropriate protection and support.
• Increase funding for specialist services that support survivors of reproductive coercion, including access to trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy.

Launch a national public awareness campaign so people understand what reproductive coercion is, how to recognise it, and where to seek help. Too many survivors are suffering in silence because this form of abuse remains hidden, misunderstood and under-recognised. Greater legal recognition, education and safeguarding would not only improve justice for victims but could also prevent future harm by identifying abuse earlier and intervening before it escalates.

Everyone has the right to make free and informed decisions about their own body and reproductive future, without fear, manipulation or coercion.

Please sign this petition to help ensure reproductive coercion is recognised, prevented and treated with the seriousness it deserves, and to make it a standalone criminal offence in the United Kingdom.