A High Court judge in Belfast today granted leave for a judicial review into the lack of abortion rights in Northern Ireland.
Lord Justice Kerr said the application by the Family Planning Association had raised a valid argument.
Leading human rights QC Lord Lester, representing the association, is trying to force the Department of Health at Stormont to introduce guidelines on terminations, ending "the unnecessary burden" faced by women in Northern Ireland.
During the High Court hearing the Department of Health was accused of sitting on the fence over the issue of abortion rights.
The FPA mounted a legal challenge to force the department to introduce the same termination rights as the rest of the UK.
Lord Lester told the hearing that the health minister, Ms Bairbre de Brun, must introduce guidance to ease the burden of women facing unwanted pregnancies.
At the moment around 1,500 women a year from Northern Ireland travel to England for abortions. He said Northern Ireland was in a unique situation in not having a detailed statutory regime relating to abortion.
Lord Lester denied claims from anti-abortion groups that the FPA was seeking a change in the law.
"We would not have the standing in these proceedings to seek a cohesive form of rules to require the secretary of state in London to give the necessary order for the Northern Ireland Assembly to introduce amending legislation similar to the 1967 Abortion Act in England and Wales," he said.
Meanwhile, a Dutch-registered ship offering offshore abortion facilities is due to arrive in Dublin tomorrow.
The ship will not provide surgical procedures but will offer an abortion pill to women. It is run by a Dutch voluntary organisation called Women on Waves.
PA