Northern Ireland's leading pro-life group Precious Life begin a 40-day Prayer Vigil outside abortion referral agencies in Belfast and Derry. The Vigils forms part of their 40 Days for Life Campaign which runs from 6th February to 16th March. The campaign consists of three components - prayer and fasting; peaceful vigils; and community outreach. Precious Life say they hope their 40 day campaign will inspire more people who have never been involved in pro-life activities to come forward and join the pro-life movement.

Director of Precious Life, Bernadette Smyth said “This Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday, communities across Ireland and the UK will be uniting with more than 80 cities in the USA for the largest simultaneous pro-life mobilisation in history — The 40 Days for Life Campaign.”
“The visible, public centrepiece of our campaign are Prayer Vigils outside the Family Planning Association's (FPA) abortion referral agencies. This peaceful and educational presence will send a powerful message to the community about the tragic reality of abortion. It also serves as a call to repentance for those who work in the abortion agencies and those who use the facility. The Prayer Vigils begin at 10.30am on Tuesday 5th February outside the FPA's abortion agency in Shaftsbury Square, Belfast . In Derry the following day, Wednesday 6th February, we will meet at 10.30am at St Columba’s 'Long Tower' and proceed to the FPA abortion agency in Carlisle Road.”

Mrs Smyth added “Over these 40 days we will also be praying and fasting for the defeat of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill which goes before the House of Commons in February or March. The HFE Bill is one of the most evil ever to come before Parliament. It fundamentally undermines the dignity and sanctity of human life by allowing human beings to be created and destroyed at will for experimentation, It is also expected that pro-abortion MPs will table amendments to liberalise the law on abortion and extend it to Northern Ireland.”
“As part of the 'community outreach' component of our Campaign, we are encouraging the public to distribute our new petition postcard calling on the Northern Ireland Office's ministerial team, Shaun Woodward and Paul Goggins, to ensure Westminster does not impose abortion on Northern Ireland against the wishes of the majority of its people.”

Bernadette Smyth concluded “We will join with others from across the country to pray and fast and pull out all the stops for 40 days to end the tragic violence of abortion. God used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities, and the entire world. It is clear that God sees the transformative value of His people accepting and meeting a 40-day challenge. We look forward to seeing what kind of transformation God will bring about throughout Ireland and the UK.”