The inclusion of an anti-abortion debate to the agenda at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Festival has led to a row. Chairwoman of the festival’s organizers Liz Nelson resigned in protest over the decision. She argues that the planned debate would promote the criminalization of women. Both Lives Matter, the organization that wanted to add the session, commented that "shutting down debate is contrary to some of the most basic human rights such as freedom of thought, conscience, expression." In Northern Ireland, unlike the rest of the UK, abortion is only allowed if a woman's life is at risk.