17th August 2014
The Abortion Rights Campaign decries the utter unsuitability of current abortion law and it’s implementation in response to recent reports concerning the first use of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. Campaigners state that recent media reports concerning the denial of an abortion to the first applicant under Section 9 of the Act demonstrate that the Act is not meeting the needs of women in Ireland and is facilitating human rights abuses.
Speaking today Cathleen Doherty of the Abortion Rights Campaign (ARC) said that:
“campaigners will be demonstrating to send a clear message to the Government that women in Ireland must be allowed basic human rights, and continuation of pregnancy is a choice to be made by the potential parent and not the State.”
Cathleen continued to say:
“the shocking details coming to light about this case are a chilling indictment of a legal system and health system that disregards women’s decisions, needs and bodily autonomy.“
The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) chair, Nigel Rodley, last month said Irish abortion law treated women “as a vessel and nothing more”. Janet Ní Shuilleabháin, speaking on behalf of ARC said: “The 8th Amendment to our constitution is cited by government after government as a reason for not legislating to broaden access to abortion in Ireland. Restricted by the Amendment, the current Government introduced flawed and unworkable legislation which criminalises abortion and prevents healthcare providers from offering full reproductive health services.”
The international and national public is now again stunned by the dehumanising treatment of vulnerable women in Ireland. The Abortion Rights Campaign fears that these tragic stories will continue to break until constitutional change allows for progressive law reform in line with the needs of Irish woman and international human rights law.
The Abortion Rights Campaign will join with maternity rights and pro-choice groups and members of the public to demonstrate for a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment on Wednesday August 17th at 6pm at the Spire in Dublin and Eyre Square, Galway.
Demonstration event page on Facebook
See more at www.abortionrightscampaign.ie
