Two women suing the Government over legislation which allows abortions up to birth for babies with Down's syndrome have arrived at the High Court.
Heidi Crowter, 26, from Coventry, has Down's syndrome and is taking legal action because she believes the law is "downright discrimination".
Maire Lea-Wilson, 33, an accountant and mum-of-two from west London, whose son Aidan has Down's syndrome, is also bringing the challenge as she hopes it will remove "a specific instance of inequality of the law".
In England, Wales and Scotland, there is a general 24-week time limit to have an abortion.
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But terminations can be permitted up until birth if there is "a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped", which includes Down's syndrome.
At a two-day hearing, lawyers representing Ms Crowter and Ms Lea-Wilson will argue that the law as it stands is unlawfully discriminatory.
The pair, supported by the campaign group Don't Screen Us Out, spoke outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London ahead of the first day of the landmark case on Tuesday.
Mrs Crowter said: "I am someone who has Down's syndrome and I find it extremely offensive that a law doesn't respect my life, and I won't stand for it.
"I want to change the law and I want to challenge people's perception of Down's syndrome. I want them to look at me and say 'this is just a normal person'."
Asked whether women should still have the choice, Mrs Crowter added: "That's not what the case is about, but I do respect their choice. I just want them to get the right information, and just meet someone who has Down's syndrome.
"That's what this is about. It's about telling people that we're just humans, with feelings."
And in a statement prior to the hearing, Ms Crowter said: "The law says that babies shouldn't be aborted up to birth, but if a baby is found to have Down's syndrome it can be aborted up until birth.
"This is the current law in the UK and I think it's not fair.
"People like me are considered to be 'seriously handicapped', but I think using that phrase for a clause in abortion law is so out of date.
"I hope we win. People shouldn't be treated differently because of their disabilities, it's downright discrimination."
Ms Lea-Wilson said prior to the hearing: "I have two sons that I love and value equally, but the law does not value them equally.
"This is wrong and so we want to try and change that.
"My motivation for taking this joint legal action with Heidi has always been simple: as a mother, I will do all that I can to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of my son, Aidan.
"This case is not about the rights or wrongs of abortion.
"It has always been about removing a specific instance of inequality of the law, whereby for a child without a disability the legal limit for abortion is 24 weeks, but you can have an abortion right up to full term with a child that does have a disability.
"We proclaim that we live in a society which values those with disabilities, that everyone deserves a fair and equal chance at life, regardless of their ability status.
"This law undermines that narrative. Does it really have a place in 2021?"
The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Carlisle James Newcome - the Church of England's lead bishop for health and social care - and Christine Hardman, the Bishop of Newcastle, said in a statement: "The Church of England has consistently argued that the law on abortion is discriminatory on two counts.
"In the first instance, it permits abortions to be carried out solely on the basis of disability.
"Secondly, it removes the 24-week time limit for abortions in cases of disability.
"We do not believe that such discrimination, founded on the probability of disability, is justifiable.
"There is something profoundly disturbing in our current contradictory stance which says that people living with disability are valued, respected and cherished, but that disability in and of itself represents a valid ground for abortion."
The hearing before Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Lieven began at 10.30am on Tuesday and is expected to conclude on Wednesday afternoon.
