UK – Women must be allowed to take abortion pills at home – anything else is a double standard

Women must be allowed to take abortion pills at home - anything else is a double standard

29 March 2018

“I was counting down the seconds until I arrived home. I collapsed almost as soon as I got inside.”

Claudia almost miscarried in a taxi on the way back from an abortion clinic. Hers is just one story among thousands from women in Britain, all because of rules that are 50 years old.

Now, the Women's Equality Party (WEP), of which I am leader, is asking Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to bring vital healthcare provision for women up to date - with no change to the law necessary.

Continued: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/women-must-allowed-take-abortion-pills-home-anything-else/

Ireland’s Abortion Fight Has A Ton Of Americans Getting Involved (On Both Sides)

Ireland’s Abortion Fight Has A Ton Of Americans Getting Involved (On Both Sides)
ByMadhuri Sathish
March 28, 2018

In May, Ireland will vote on a referendum to determine whether or not to legalize abortion. The country currently has a near-total ban on abortion, with the only exception being when a pregnant person's life is at risk, but the referendum could repeal this ban if enough people vote in favor of it. But as the vote approaches, anti-abortion protesters have taken to the streets in Dublin — and not all of them are Irish. In fact, there are some Americans protesting abortion in Ireland, sparking concerns of foreign influence on the upcoming referendum.

Continued: https://www.bustle.com/p/irelands-abortion-fight-has-a-ton-of-americans-getting-involved-on-both-sides-8626052

Ireland sets May date for historic abortion referendum

Ireland sets May date for historic abortion referendum
Vote on 25 May will offer citizens opportunity to overhaul one of world’s strictest regimes

Henry McDonald , Ireland correspondent
Wed 28 Mar 2018

Ireland will vote in a referendum on 25 May on liberalising its strict abortion laws, the government has confirmed, in an announcement that officially begins two months of campaigning.

Abortion has long been a divisive issue in the once stridently Catholic country. A complete ban was only lifted in 2013, when terminations were allowed in cases where the mother’s life was in danger.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/28/ireland-sets-abortion-referendum-date

USA – “Whatever’s your darkest question, you can ask me.”

“Whatever’s your darkest question, you can ask me.”
A secret network of women is working outside the law and the medical establishment to provide safe, cheap home abortions.

March 28, 2018
By Lizzie Presser

On a winter morning, Anna* walked the aisles of an herbal-medicine store, picked up a bottle each of blue cohosh and black cohosh, along with a plastic bag of pennyroyal tea, and drove to the topless bar on the edge of town where she worked. There, she met Jules, another dancer. They performed on a small stage with crystal curtains, the green light of an ATM flashing on their left, until 9 p.m. The women, both in their 20s, then drove to the Motel 6 where Jules lived and entered her dim room on the second floor, which smelled of grape cigars. Anna pulled out the tinctures and tea and explained the plan. She was going to help Jules try to have an abortion.

Continued: https://story.californiasunday.com/abortion-providers

Ireland – Coveney’s very public agonising on abortion issue helps both sides

Coveney’s very public agonising on abortion issue helps both sides
Tánaiste’s vacillations reflect much middle-ground opinion on referendum

Wed, Mar 28, 2018
Pat Leahy

Many politicians are struggling with their consciences to come to a settled position on abortion. None is doing it quite so publicly as the second most senior member of the Government.

Simon Coveney’s U-turn earlier this week on the Government’s proposal to legislate for abortion on request up to 12 weeks if the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment is passed caught his colleagues by surprise. But most of them – the majority back repeal, anyway – were not displeased. At least the Tánaiste was now on board.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/coveney-s-very-public-agonising-on-abortion-issue-helps-both-sides-1.3442431

28.03.2018

Ireland – Six things to know about the abortion Bill

Six things to know about the abortion Bill
Main provisions of the General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate Termination of Pregnancy

Tue, Mar 27, 2018

Minister for Health Simon Harris outlined in the Seanad some of the main provisions of the General Scheme of a Bill to Regulate the Termination of Pregnancy, if the referendum on whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment goes ahead and is passed:

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/six-things-to-know-about-the-abortion-bill-1.3442528

28.03.2018

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Ireland – Government to seek limits on future abortion reform

Government to seek limits on future abortion reform
Coalition promises extra safeguards following dismissal of Simon Coveney proposal

Wed, Mar 28, 2018
Sarah Bardon

The Government has insisted it will introduce additional safeguards “above and beyond” the normal legislative process to minimise the possibility of future changes to abortion laws.

The exact nature of the safeguards have yet to be decided but may require the establishment of an Oireachtas committee or a citizens’ assembly.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/government-to-seek-limits-on-future-abortion-reform-1.3442536

Ireland – Abortion fake-news firestorm heading our way

Fintan O’Toole: Abortion fake-news firestorm heading our way
Why has Save the 8th hired consultant at heart of Trump-Mercer-Brexit data nexus?

March 27, 2018
Fintan O'Toole

If you like my stuff you’re an ignoramus. Many people would agree with this as a general proposition, but I mean it in a more specific sense. If you’ve ever liked or shared one of my columns online, data-analysis firms probably identify you as a hopeless lefty liberal. And you will therefore be ignorant of the big social-media campaign against the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, which bans abortion in almost all circumstances. That campaign will be modelled on those that helped both Donald Trump and Brexit to victory. It will use microtargeting to direct specific messages to those who can be most easily swayed by them. You won’t see them – and as things stand Irish regulations will do nothing to control them.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-abortion-fake-news-firestorm-heading-our-way-1.3440927

ARGENTINA – What’s been happening since the abortion law reform bill was tabled

ARGENTINA – What’s been happening since the abortion law reform bill was tabled
by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Mar 27, 2018

The tabling of the bill drafted by the Campaña por el Derecho al Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuito took place on 6 March in the lower House of the Argentine Congress.

Mariana Romero of Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES) writes: “I was inside the Chamber that day. There were 116 representatives at the ‘informative session’ in which the process of consideration of this bill and several others that were tabled at the same time was presented. Of the 116 representatives present in the Chamber, 102 of them belong to one of the three Committees that will take evidence from “experts” and will vote on whether to take one or more bills to the full Chamber, as outlined below. The methodology for this process was presented, and it seems transparent. All in all, it was a very good day. For sure, the situation is new, and we have two months to lobby those who do not know how they are going to vote.”

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/argentina-whats-been-happening-since-the-abortion-law-reform-bill-was-tabled/

PARAGUAY – Child who was pregnant following sexual abuse dies from complications of delivery

PARAGUAY – Child who was pregnant following sexual abuse dies from complications of delivery
by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Mar 27, 2018

The death of a 14-year-old rape victim who has died during childbirth in Paraguay has been in all the news media there. The girl had been hospitalised for 20 days, initially for a urinary tract infection, which was followed by other complications when she went into labour. Yet doctors were still attempting to deliver the baby vaginally until she suffered respiratory complications. They then attempted an emergency caesarean section, but the girl suffered an amniotic fluid embolism and three successive cardiac arrests and then she died.

The director of the National Hospital of Itauguá told local media: “It was very sudden. They attempted advanced resuscitation in intensive care, but could not save her. Her body was not ready for a pregnancy.” However, the girl’s family believe that her death was caused by medical negligence. They say the doctors insisted she give birth vaginally even though it was a high-risk pregnancy.

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/paraguay-child-who-was-pregnant-following-sexual-abuse-dies-from-complications-of-delivery/