Nationalist and unionist members of the Stormont Assembly have united to reject any possible extension of the 1967 British Abortion Act to the North.
The motion against extending the Act was proposed by the DUP but SDLP, Sinn Fein, Alliance and Ulster Unionist members also voiced their opposition to extending the British legislation.
The only party which supported a liberalisation of the law in the North was the Progressive Unionists, although a UUP Assembly member, Ms Joan Carson, also spoke in favour.
An amendment by the Women's Coalition that the Assembly delay a decision until the Health Committee presented a report to the chamber, after taking advice from medical and education experts, was defeated.
Abortion is allowed in the North in very limited circumstances, including if the woman's life is in danger, she has severe learning difficulties or foetal disability is detected.
The public gallery was packed for the four-hour debate. However, the Assembly chamber itself was half-empty.
Proposing the motion, Mr Jim Wells of the DUP said it was essential that "legalised carnage" was not permitted in the North.
Abortion was not necessary, even in cases of rape, he said. The adoption waiting lists showed "there are homes for these children".
Supporting the motion, Dr Joe Hendron of the SDLP insisted life began at fertilisation and "the most vulnerable human being in our society is the unborn child".
Ms Joan Carson of the UUP asked if those supporting the motion were planning to ban the morning-after pill as well.
She said outlawing abortion did nothing to help the 2,000 women, a fifth of them under 20, who travelled to Britain every year to have terminations.
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin of Sinn Fein said while his party was opposed to the extension of the 1967 Act, there must be calm and effective discussion on the subject. His party supported the Women's Coalition amendment.
Mr Seamus Close of Alliance said he was passionately against the "butchery" of abortion. It was disgraceful that those who supported women's and workers' rights denied the rights of the unborn.
Mr David Ervine of the PUP said women should have control over their own bodies. It was the height of hypocrisy for politicians who justified the bombing of "Belgrade, Baghdad, Dresden to be so concerned about the life of the foetus".
The DUP motion was passed without a recorded vote. The Women's Coalition amendment was defeated by 43 to 15 votes.