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

How 99 strangers in a Dublin hotel broke Ireland’s abortion deadlock

How 99 strangers in a Dublin hotel broke Ireland's abortion deadlock
Ahead of a public vote in May, the work of a citizens’ assembly to debate the previously taboo subject is still being felt

Patrick Chalmers in Dublin
Thu 8 Mar 2018

Ninety-nine random strangers, a North Dublin hotel and a lot of cups of tea and coffee – not exactly the stuff of political revolution.

Yet little more than a year later, it appears that an unlikely assemblage of housewives, students, ex-teachers, truck drivers and others has brought Ireland to the brink of radical change to its abortion laws.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/08/how-99-strangers-in-a-dublin-hotel-broke-irelands-abortion-deadlock

Ireland: Amnesty challenges Sipo order to return abortion campaign donation

Amnesty challenges Sipo order to return abortion campaign donation
Group says €137,000 payment from Open Society Foundations not for political purposes

Feb 12, 2018
Aodhan O'Faolain

Amnesty International’s Irish section has challenged an order by the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) requiring it to return a €137,000 donation to its campaign to hold a referendum on the State’s abortion laws.

The donation was made in August 2015 by the Swiss-based Open Society Foundations (OSF), founded by billionaire George Soros, for the “My Body, My Rights” campaign, which involved organising events and seminars for politicians prior to the 2016 general election.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/amnesty-challenges-sipo-order-to-return-abortion-campaign-donation-1.3389577

From Linda Kavanagh to Tracy Harkin: A guide to who’s who in Ireland’s divisive abortion debate

From Linda Kavanagh to Tracy Harkin: A guide to who's who in Ireland's divisive abortion debate
With Ireland's landmark referendum on the Eighth Amendment looming, voices on both sides of the abortion debate are getting louder. But who exactly is lining out?

John Meagher
February 4 2018

It has been a momentous week for campaigners on both sides of the great abortion debate as it was finally confirmed that a referendum would be held this summer. Friday, May 25, is thought to be the most likely day for the referendum, one that pro-choice supporters hope will forever lift the ban on abortion.

But despite a series of opinion polls that indicate that the majority of the country wants change, the pro-life side believes a large cohort of people opposed to abortion have not had their voices heard.

Continued: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/abortion-referendum/from-linda-kavanagh-to-tracy-harkin-a-guide-to-whos-who-in-irelands-divisive-abortion-debate-36558195.html

IRELAND: US group denies Sipo claims that funding for abortion campaign was political

US group denies Sipo claims that funding for abortion campaign was political

Friday, December 22, 2017
By Joe Leogue

The US foundation which awarded funding to Amnesty Ireland for its campaign against Ireland’s abortion laws has taken issue with the State ethics watchdog’s claims that it had said the money was for “political purposes”.

Open Society Foundations (OSF) said it has written to the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) calling on it to correct the record on the matter.

Continued at source: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/us-group-denies-sipo-claims-that-funding-for-abortion-campaign-was-political-819944.html

22.12.2017

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Amnesty International Ireland

Open Society Foundation

SIPO

Standards in Public Office Commission

Ireland: Standards commission explains why George Soros’ donation to fund Amnesty abortion campaign was illegal

Standards commission explains why George Soros' donation to fund Amnesty abortion campaign was illegal
The law bans any foreign donations that aren’t from an Irish citizen who resides outside the island.

Dec 13, 2017

THE STANDARDS IN Public Office Commission (SIPO) has explained why it ordered Amnesty International to return a donation made by billionaire George Soros for its My Body My Rights campaign.

Sipo said current legislation governing donations to political groups forces those who receive donations over €100 to register as a third-party. The Electoral Act also bans foreign donations from an individual other than an Irish citizen who resides outside the island of Ireland – meaning Soros’ €137,000 donation did not meet the criteria for an acceptable donation.

Continued at source: http://www.thejournal.ie/george-soros-banned-3748738-Dec2017/

13.12.2017

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Amnesty International Ireland

Standards in Public Office Commission

Ireland: Amnesty welcomes Sinn Féin Ard Fheis policy change on access to abortion

Amnesty welcomes Sinn Féin Ard Fheis policy change on access to abortion
Nov 18, 2017

Amnesty International has welcomed today’s passing of a motion at Sinn Féin’s Ard Fheis which extends the party’s support for abortion access to when a woman or girl’s physical or mental health is at risk.

The motion also reasserts their opposition to the criminalisation of women who make the decision to have an abortion. It also commits the party to developing a women’s health policy, which takes into consideration the recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly on access to abortion in the Republic of Ireland.

Continued at source: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/amnesty-welcomes-sinn-fein-ard-fheis-policy-change-access-abortion

Ireland: Majority would support abortion on demand, says Amnesty poll

Majority would support abortion on demand, says Amnesty poll
Red C Poll finds 85% of people support abortion choice if pregnancy is result of rape

Oct 31, 2017
Kitty Holland

A majority of people would support abortion on demand, a poll commissioned by Amnesty International and published on Wednesday has found.

The Red C Poll of 1,000 adults, conducted by telephone between October 16th and 19th, found that 60 per cent of people believe women should have abortion on demand, either outright or within gestational limits.

Its findings, said executive director of Amnesty International Ireland Colm O’Gorman, show the public strongly support “women making their own decisions about their pregnancies”.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/majority-would-support-abortion-on-demand-says-amnesty-poll-1.3275762

31.10.2017

Amnesty International Ireland

Colm O'Gorman

Eighth Amendment

Red C Poll on abortion

Ireland: 25 annoying things about being pregnant

25 annoying things about being pregnant

Amnesty International Ireland
Published on Aug 3, 2017

All pregnant women and girls are risk under the 8th Amendment. Watch until the end. Join our campaign: http://bit.ly/itstimecampaign #Repealthe8th #25annoyingthings

Continued at source: Amnesty International Ireland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P55gfs1Xos&feature=youtu.be

03.08.2017

Amnesty International Ireland

Ireland: Amnesty International welcomes Citizens’ Assembly report as road map for abortion reform

Amnesty International welcomes Citizens’ Assembly report as road map for abortion reform
29th June 2017

Amnesty International reiterates need for access on request at least in early pregnancy to ensure a human rights compliant abortion framework

Amnesty International today welcomed the recommendations put forward by the Citizens’ Assembly in the report written by its Chair, Justice Mary Laffoy. In April, members of the Citizens’ Assembly called for expansive reform of Ireland’s abortion laws. In addition to overwhelming backing for the removal of the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution, they voted by a two-thirds majority for access to abortion on request at least in early pregnancy, and by even greater majorities for later gestational limits in specific circumstances.

Continued at source: Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.ie/amnesty-international-welcomes-citizens-assembly-report-road-map-abortion-reform/