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Irish stars call for abortion reform Irish stars call for abortion reform
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Leading figures in Irish literature, arts and music – including Man Booker prize winners and Hollywood directors – have launched a campaign for the abolition of an amendment to Ireland’s constitution that they say prevents serious reform of its strict anti-abortion laws.Leading figures in Irish literature, arts and music – including Man Booker prize winners and Hollywood directors – have launched a campaign for the abolition of an amendment to Ireland’s constitution that they say prevents serious reform of its strict anti-abortion laws.
Authors including Anne Enright, Edna O’Brien and John Banville are protesting alongside filmmakers such as Jim Sheridan and John Boorman to call for the repeal of the Eighth amendment. It gives a foetus the same constitutional rights as every other citizen in the Irish Republic, even at the earliest stages of pregnancy. Authors including Anne Enright, Edna O’Brien and John Banville are protesting alongside filmmakers such as Jim Sheridan and John Boorman to call for the repeal of the eighth amendment. It gives a foetus the same constitutional rights as every other citizen in the Irish Republic, even at the earliest stages of pregnancy.
Pro-choice groups say the amendment creates a legal “chill factor” among medical teams even in cases affected by a law passed last year which allows for terminations in very limited circumstances. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (2013) allows abortion when continuing with a pregnancy would result in the mother’s death or in cases where the woman is suicidal. Pro-choice groups say the amendment creates a legal “chill factor” among medical teams even in cases affected by a law passed last year that allows for terminations in very limited circumstances. The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (2013) allows abortion when continuing with a pregnancy would result in the mother’s death or in cases where the woman is suicidal.
Irish actors such as Cillian Murphy have joined the campaign to make abolishing the Eighth amendment a central issue in the general election, which is expected to take place early next year. Irish actors including Cillian Murphy have joined the campaign to make abolishing the eighth amendment a central issue in the general election, which is expected to take place early next year.
In their statement, released on Tuesday, the artists say: “The Eighth amendment of the constitution of Ireland, article 40.3.3 inserted in 1983, has prevented our doctors and our legislators from providing proper care to women in Ireland. The resulting physical and emotional trauma inflicted on women is inexcusable and an ongoing shame for Irish citizens. In their statement, released on Tuesday, the artists say: “The eighth amendment of the constitution of Ireland, article 40.3.3 inserted in 1983, has prevented our doctors and our legislators from providing proper care to women in Ireland. The resulting physical and emotional trauma inflicted on women is inexcusable and an ongoing shame for Irish citizens.
Related: Ireland's abortion law tortures women. It needs to be legal | Jessica ValentiRelated: Ireland's abortion law tortures women. It needs to be legal | Jessica Valenti
“The Eighth amendment undermines the status of the Irish constitution. It is a key source of Ireland’s failure to reach international human rights standards and of the state’s failure to meet its obligations to vindicate women’s human rights. “The eighth amendment undermines the status of the Irish constitution. It is a key source of Ireland’s failure to reach international human rights standards and of the state’s failure to meet its obligations to vindicate women’s human rights.
“We, the undersigned artists, call for the repeal of the Eighth amendment to the Irish constitution and for action by our elected legislators to provide women in Ireland with modern reproductive health services in line with best medical practice and international human rights norms.” “We, the undersigned artists, call for the repeal of the eighth amendment to the Irish constitution and for action by our elected legislators to provide women in Ireland with modern reproductive health services in line with best medical practice and international human rights norms.”
The amendment was introduced via a referendum in the Republic in 1983. Ireland’s then politically influential anti-abortion lobby – in alliance with the Catholic church – forced the Fine Gael-Labour coalition under the late Garret FitzGerald to hold a national vote to in effect make an embryo into an Irish citizen. The amendment was passed with 67% voting in favour. The amendment was introduced via a referendum in the republic in 1983. Ireland’s then politically influential anti-abortion lobby – in alliance with the Catholic church – forced the Fine Gael-Labour coalition under the late Garret FitzGerald to hold a national vote to in effect make an embryo into an Irish citizen. The amendment was passed with 67% voting in favour.
Any move to abolish the amendment would require a new abortion referendum, which would be far more divisive than the vote to endorse gay marriage in Ireland in May.Any move to abolish the amendment would require a new abortion referendum, which would be far more divisive than the vote to endorse gay marriage in Ireland in May.
The array of literary, filmmaking and musical talent calling for abortion reform want all the political parties in the Republic to commit to a referendum in their manifestos in 2016. The array of literary, filmmaking and musical talent calling for abortion reform want all the political parties in the republic to commit to a referendum in their election manifestos for 2016.
The artists are backing a coalition of groups which have come together to campaign for repeal of the Eighth amendment. The coalition claims that public opinion in Ireland has shifted towards being more pro-choice. The artists are backing a coalition of groups that have come together to campaign for repeal of the eighth amendment. The coalition claims that public opinion in Ireland has shifted towards being more pro-choice.
Related: Savita Halappanavar death: nine members of Irish medical team disciplinedRelated: Savita Halappanavar death: nine members of Irish medical team disciplined
Ailbhe Smith, the coalition’s convener, said: “Since the death of Savita Halappanavar (2012) and the introduction of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (2013), opinion poll after opinion poll has shown a groundswell of support for repeal. This is why we are deeply disappointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s comments that Fine Gael would not favour abolishing the Eighth amendment without considering what would replace it. The taoiseach’s views are seriously out of step with the majority of voters in this country. Ailbhe Smith, the coalition’s convener, said: “Since the death of Savita Halappanavar (2012) and the introduction of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act (2013), opinion poll after opinion poll has shown a groundswell of support for repeal. This is why we are deeply disappointed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s comments that Fine Gael would not favour abolishing the eighth amendment without considering what would replace it. The taoiseach’s views are seriously out of step with the majority of voters in this country.
“Women’s reproductive choices have no place in the constitution. It is time for political parties to stop kicking the can down the road and to commit to a referendum in 2016. Women – 50% of the electorate – deserve better from our political leaders.”“Women’s reproductive choices have no place in the constitution. It is time for political parties to stop kicking the can down the road and to commit to a referendum in 2016. Women – 50% of the electorate – deserve better from our political leaders.”
Last year, a young asylum seeker who had been raped in her native country was refused an abortion by the Irish health service even though she claimed she was suicidal. The young woman tried to escape to Britain to get a termination in Liverpool but was arrested and deported back to Ireland from Birkhenhead ferry terminal by Merseyside police because she had no personal documentation with her. Last year, a young asylum seeker who had been raped in her native country was refused an abortion by the Irish health service even though she claimed she was suicidal. The woman tried to escape to Britain to get a termination in Liverpool but was arrested and deported back to Ireland from the Birkhenhead ferry terminal by Merseyside police because she had no personal documentation with her.
The young woman was forced to go ahead with the pregnancy and gave birth via caesarean section in Ireland. The child was given up for adoption. It is understood the rape victim’s legal team are to sue the Irish state for forcing her to go full term against her will. The woman was forced to go ahead with the pregnancy and gave birth via caesarean section in Ireland. The child was given up for adoption. It is understood the rape victim’s legal team are to sue the Irish state for forcing her to go full term against her will.