‘There has been an obvious weakening of the feeling that abortion is a last resort in cases of extreme danger or distress,’ Williams writes, noting that ‘nearly 200,000 abortions a year in England and Wales tell their own story’. Instead, the leader of the Church of England claims the growing belief that ‘abortion is essentially a matter of individual decision’ means it is no longer ‘the kind of major moral choice that should involve a sharing of perspective and judgment’.

Catholic delegates at this week’s international conference of the organisation are likely to raise the issue, but the majority of the 400 delegates from around the world are believed to be firmly in favour of retaining the new policy.

Amnesty International was founded in 1961 by British lawyer and Roman Catholic convert Peter Benenson to campaign