Bring on the Irish abortion referendum
Ella Whelan
assistant editor
This is our chance to make the positive case for women’s rights.
16 June 2017
In his first day in office as the new Fine Gael Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar announced that the Republic of Ireland will have a referendum on the Eighth Amendment next year.
The Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution, which was added following a referendum on abortion rights in 1983, ensures the right to life of the unborn. This means that a woman’s life and rights are equated with that of an embryo. Irish women cannot access abortion services, even in the event of rape or fatal fetal abnormality. They are forced to buy medicine illegally online, or travel to the UK at their own expense to access abortion services there.
Continued at source: Spiked: http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/article/bring-on-the-irish-abortion-referendum/19967