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abortion rights

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The Citizen's Assembly is in talks today discussing Ireland's stance on abortion. 

Today's meeting is the third of four that will focus on how the 100 randomly selected members should advise government legislators later this year, on the future of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.

Today, the members raised the issue that among the randomly selected 300 public submissions (out of the 13,500 received) which are being heard, there is a lot of repetition, particularly regarding people's religious stance in regards to abortion, which is not relevant to their deliberations.

The assembly heard the details of Irish women's abortion choices, with Irish women being more likely to have a surgical abortion in the UK than a medical abortion, according to the Irish Times.

This is because a surgical abortion can be carried out in a day, while a medical abortion, in which the woman takes abortion pills, requires an overnight stay.

According to Dr Patricia Lohr, the director of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which is one of the leading providers of abortions for Irish women, Irish women procure an abortion on average one week later than UK based women, due to the necessity to travel.

Another issue raised at this weekends assembly is the possibility of extending Ireland's abortion laws to accept rape as an acceptable reason to procure an abortion. 

Tom O'Malley, a senior NUIG law lecturer, told the Citizens' Assembly that it would be impractical to have to wait for Gardai to prove that a rape had occurred and secure a conviction to allow for an abortion in the case of rape, as the conviction process can take up to three years, said RTE. 

The assembly also heard that  3,451 women from Ireland travelled for an abortion in 2015, with 135 of these due to a foetal abnormality.

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Supporters of the Repeal the 8th campaign have become synonymous for their penchant for a certain black slogan sweatshirt. 

The Repeal jumpers sell out in mere hours whenever and wherever they are sold, and you can't walk down the street without spotting someone wearing their political beliefs on their sleeve.

Proclaiming your politics through personalised merchandise is no longer the sole territory of Repeal supporters, as anti-abortion campaigners have adopted the trend, creating 'Save the 8th' jumpers to showcase the beliefs of the self-styled "silent majority."

The Life Institute website, the brain-child behind the 'Save the 8th' merchandise, claims that requests for "more than 10,000 'Save the 8th' stickers, badges, bumper stickers and T-shirts" have been heard by the site, and they are responding to the demand.

The organisation, who have previously likened a woman's right to choose to the genocide of Jewish people under the Nazi regime and the enslavement before America's Civil War, have begun producing merchandise for their followers. 

"It is time to let abortion activists in Ireland know that the silent majority is not going to be silent anymore!" proclaims the site.

"We will stand up against abortion and fight to preserve the right to life for everyone – born and unborn!"

A quick social media search shows that young supporters of the Life Institute are happy to don their Save the 8th hoodies with pride, with many of the 170 #savethe8th tagged photos on Instagram showcasing the colourful sweatshirts.

However, the Repeal project has over 18,488 posts on the hashtag #repealthe8th, suggesting that public opinion, on social media at least, is in favour of the pro-choice ideals. 

The Life Institute has been working to combat the idea of repealing the 8th, through their project 'Save Lives, Save the 8th', and have created not only hoodies but various other forms of merchandise. 

"If you’re tired of hearing the media endlessly prattle on about ‘Repeal the 8th’ then display your sticker with pride," says the site. 

The Life Institute declined to comment on the hoodies or their various projects for this article.

 

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80 percent of Irish people would vote yes in a referendum to repeal the the 8th amendment, according to a study by Amnesty International Ireland.

The data gathered in a study of over 1000 people across all genders, social classes and counties showed that Irish people are in favour of repealing the 8th amendment, with only 12 percent saying that they would vote no should a referendum occur. 

"The concept that abortion rights is a deeply divisive opinion is nonsense." Colm O'Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, told SHEmazing!

"Remarkably few people refuse to answer or don't know either, the data shows that overwhelmingly people are very progressive." 

"Only 5 percent of people are personally against abortion."

Red C and Amnesty International "Public Attitudes Towards Abortion in Ireland"

"The parties cannot pretend this is a divided or divisive issue."

"Our poll clearly shows that support for expanding access and repealing the Eighth is shared strongly right across the country and all age groups and social groups. People in Ireland are clear on the need to expand access to abortion and they want women’s and girls’ human rights to be respected."

The poll also shows that almost three quarters of people agree that the fact that women must travel abroad to access abortion unfairly discriminates against women who are unable to or cannot afford to travel. 

Red C and Amnesty International "Public Attitudes Towards Abortion in Ireland"

The study reveals that 55 percent of people agree with the United Nation's Human Rights Committee, and think that Ireland's abortion ban is "cruel and inhumane."

Another key finding was that almost three quarters, 72 percent, believe that the Government should hold a referendum to allow people to vote on whether or not to remove the 8th amendment from the Constitution. 

Two-thirds of people also believe that it is hypocritical that Ireland’s constitution bans abortion in Ireland but allows women to travel abroad for abortions.

 Red C and Amnesty International "Public Attitudes Towards Abortion in Ireland"

Even among the aforementioned 5 percent of respondents personally opposed to abortion in all circumstances (i.e. even where the woman or girl’s life is at risk), 34 percent would vote to repeal the Eighth Amendment, rising to half if there was legislation placing “reasonable restrictions” on access to abortion.

"This poll demonstrates yet again, that on the issue of abortion, Ireland’s people are way ahead of their political leaders," said Colm O'Gorman, 

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Noticed some shadowy figures lurking around Dublin over the weekend?

The shadows are part of a street art installation by artist Will St Leger, which finished up in the country's capitol on Saturday. 

The shadowy silhouettes and their suitcases are being erected to represent the thousands of women who are forced to travel abroad every year to seek abortions outside of Ireland. 

"Life-size silhouettes representing women will be placed in various locations across the country to visually symbolise the fact that, on average 10 women and girls are forced to leave Ireland every day to access abortion services aboard,' said the artist of the project. 

The project is supported by the Repeal project, the Abortion Rights campaign and Amnesty International. 

"Every year, at least 4,000 women are forced to travel outside of Ireland to access abortion services," said the artist, in a post on his professional blog.

"This refers to the number of women who give Irish addresses. The real figure, which doesn’t account for women travelling to other countries or purchasing abortion pills online, could be much higher."

The silhouettes were placed on Rosie Hackett Bridge at the weekend after visiting Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Meath over the past week. 

"This project will build on the progress made by Abortion Rights Campaign regional groups and other local and community groups. It will continue expanding the dialogue on the urgent need for a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment,” said Tarry Gleason, an Abortion Rights Campaign spokesperson. 

Even Aungier Danger supported the cause, creating a doughnut "for the women of Ireland."

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