Ireland: State risks further abortion compo after €30k payout

State risks further abortion compo after €30k payout
Thursday, November 09, 2017

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
Irish Examiner Political Correspondent

Ireland is at risk of having to pay compensation to thousands of women forced to travel abroad to receive an abortion unless the law is immediately changed to make the procedure legal and easily accessible.

The US-based Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) made the claim after the State paid out €30,000 over an abortion case, for only the second time in its history, in response to a UN ruling on the matter.

Continued at source: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/state-risks-further-abortion-compo-after-30k-payout-462516.html


Ireland: Tensions over witnesses’ letters at Eighth Amendment committee

Tensions over witnesses' letters at Eighth Amendment committee
Updated / Wednesday, 8 Nov 2017

Chair of the Oireachtas committee on the Eighth Amendment has told members that she will not be reading letters of witnesses into the record of the committee, if they choose not to attend.

Senator Catherine Noone was returning to an earlier request by Deputy Mattie McGrath of the Rural Independent Group, who requested that letters be those who did not attend today be read by the chair.

Continued at source: https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1108/918537-oireachtas-eighth-amendment-committee/


State pays €30k in compensation to woman denied abortion in Ireland

State pays €30k in compensation to woman denied abortion in Ireland

Shane Phelan
November 7 2017

The State has paid €30,000 in compensation to a woman who had to travel to the UK for an abortion after a fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis.

The settlement with Siobhan Whelan was agreed in recent days, Independent.ie has learned.

It also involves a commitment to fund supports for the Co Wexford woman.

Continued at source: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/state-pays-30k-in-compensation-to-woman-denied-abortion-in-ireland-36298487.html


UK: Woman paid €30,000 over having to travel for abortion

Woman paid €30,000 over having to travel for abortion
UN Human Rights Committee case concerns abortion in UK for fatal foetal abnormality

Nov 7, 2017
Pat Leahy

The Government has paid €30,000 in compensation to a woman who travelled to the UK for an abortion after a diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality.

Siobhan Whelan, who successfully took a case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee earlier this year, has also been offered access to counselling services.

Continued at source: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/woman-paid-30-000-over-having-to-travel-for-abortion-1.3283416


Ireland: Varadkar announces abortion referendum for next year

Varadkar announces abortion referendum for next year
15 Jun 2017
Kenneth Fox

Simon Harris will be responsible for bringing forward the legislation

Amidst the news of a new Taoisech in the Dáil and the announcement of his Cabinet, the news that Leo Varadkar had confirmed an abortion referendum, seemed to slip through the cracks.

Yesterday he confirmed that the referendum will take place sometime next year.

He said Health Minister Simon Harris would be responsible for bringing forward legislation to allow for the referendum on the eight amendment, which gives an equal right to life to the mother and the unborn.

Continued at link: NewsTalk: http://www.newstalk.com/Varadkar-announces-abortion-referendum-for-next-year-


U.N. Committee: Criminalization of Abortion in Ireland Violates Woman’s Human Rights

U.N. Committee: Criminalization of Abortion in Ireland Violates Woman's Human Rights
New Decision Marks Second Time the U.N. Human Rights Committee Calls for Abortion Law Reform in Ireland

06.13.17 - (PRESS RELEASE) The United Nations Human Rights Committee has just ruled for the second time that Ireland’s abortion laws subjected a woman to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. This new decision recognizes yet again that prohibiting abortion violates women’s human rights and calls on Ireland to reform its laws.

The U.N. Committee ruled in favor of Siobhán Whelan, who was denied access to abortion services in Ireland following a diagnosis of a fatal fetal impairment. The Committee held that Ireland must provide Ms. Whelan with reparations for the harm she suffered and reform its laws to ensure other women do not continue to face similar violations. The Committee instructed Ireland to legalize abortion and provide effective, timely and accessible abortion services in Ireland.

Continued at source: Center for Reproductive Rights: https://www.reproductiverights.org/press-room/un-committee-criminalization-of-abortion-in-ireland-violates-womans-human-rights-0


Irish abortion law violated woman’s human rights, UN says

Irish abortion law violated woman’s human rights, UN says

Siobhan Whelan forced to travel to UK for abortion after fatal foetal abnormality diagnosis

June 13, 2017
Paul Cullen

A United Nations committee has found Ireland violated the human rights of a woman who had to travel to Britain for an abortion after her baby was diagnosed with a fatal foetal abnormality.
The UN human rights committee has told the State to pay compensation to the woman, Siobhan Whelan, and to provide psychological treatment to her.

Continued at source: Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/irish-abortion-law-violated-woman-s-human-rights-un-says-1.3118145


UN repeats criticism of Ireland’s ‘cruel and inhumane’ abortion laws

UN repeats criticism of Ireland's 'cruel and inhumane' abortion laws

Committee finds in favour of Siobhán Whelan, who was denied a termination despite fatal foetal syndrome diagnosis

Henry McDonald Ireland correspondent

Tuesday 13 June 2017

The United Nations has again ruled that Ireland’s abortion laws have subjected a woman to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

It is the second time in 12 months that the UN’s human rights committee has denounced the abortion rules in the Irish Republic, which denies women with fatal foetal abnormalities the right to terminate pregnancies.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/13/un-denounces-ireland-abortion-laws-as-cruel-and-inhumane-again


UN highlights the shame of Ireland’s harsh abortion laws

UN highlights the shame of Ireland’s harsh abortion laws
13 June 2017

A ruling issued today by the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) that Ireland’s harsh abortion laws violated the human rights of an Irish woman is yet another reminder of the desperate need for reform, Amnesty International said.

The UNHRC ordered that Ireland redress the harm it caused to Siobhán Whelan, who was forced to travel to the UK for an abortion in 2010, including by reforming its abortion laws to prevent similar violations happening to other women.

“This is the second case within a year where the UN has found Ireland’s abortion laws to be grossly out of step with its international human rights obligations. While we welcome this ruling, it is outrageous that women have to go to the UN to have their human rights respected. How many more women will have to suffer before the Irish government opens its eyes?” said Gauri Van Gulik, Amnesty International’s Deputy Europe Director.

Continued at source: Amnesty International: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/06/un-highlights-the-shame-of-irelands-harsh-abortion-laws/