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Irish Women Who Had Abortions Abroad Show Their Faces Online Irish Women Who Had Abortions Abroad Show Their Faces Online
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A group of Irish women who have traveled abroad to have abortions posted images of their faces online on Thursday as part of a new social media campaign to destigmatize the procedure and build support to change the law that makes it nearly impossible to legally terminate a pregnancy in Ireland.A group of Irish women who have traveled abroad to have abortions posted images of their faces online on Thursday as part of a new social media campaign to destigmatize the procedure and build support to change the law that makes it nearly impossible to legally terminate a pregnancy in Ireland.
Images of 11 women appear on the home page of the new website, called the X-ile Project, along with a statement that encourages more women who felt cast out by their homeland at a time when they needed support to add their portraits to the gallery.Images of 11 women appear on the home page of the new website, called the X-ile Project, along with a statement that encourages more women who felt cast out by their homeland at a time when they needed support to add their portraits to the gallery.
“Our objective is to give a much-needed face to women who have effectively been exiled from Ireland and ignored due to unduly strict abortion laws,” the women write.“Our objective is to give a much-needed face to women who have effectively been exiled from Ireland and ignored due to unduly strict abortion laws,” the women write.
“We aim to demonstrate that those who choose to travel to have an abortion are responsible, ordinary women and are our neighbours, friends, colleagues, mothers, daughters and partners.” “It is estimated that 12 women a day on average travel outside of Ireland to access abortion services,” two of the activists behind the project, Laura Lovejoy and Julie Morrissy, explained in an email. “Almost everyone in Ireland knows someone who has been forced to travel for an abortion, although for many the stigma prevents them from talking about it.”
The project is intended to help “break down the overwhelming stigma around women who travel from Ireland for the purpose of having an abortion.” “In showing these images, we aim to demonstrate that those who choose to travel to have an abortion are responsible, ordinary women who can and should be able to make important decisions about their own lives,” they added.
The women also said that the project’s name was a reference to a 1992 case in which a suicidal 14-year-old rape victim (publicly identified only as “X”) was blocked from travelling to Britain for an abortion by the attorney general of Ireland. After the girl’s parents appealed the travel ban, Ireland’s Supreme Court overturned it, ruling that abortion was permitted in cases in which the pregnancy poses a threat to a woman’s life.
After the site launched, one of the participants, Tara Flynn, an actress and comedian, encouraged other women to take part.After the site launched, one of the participants, Tara Flynn, an actress and comedian, encouraged other women to take part.
Abortion rights activists, who say that more than 170,000 Irish women have traveled outside the country to have abortions in the past four decades, are pressing for a referendum to repeal a constitutional amendment passed in 1983 that blocks the legalization of abortion.Abortion rights activists, who say that more than 170,000 Irish women have traveled outside the country to have abortions in the past four decades, are pressing for a referendum to repeal a constitutional amendment passed in 1983 that blocks the legalization of abortion.
Under current law, abortions are permitted in Ireland only in cases in which the pregnancy poses a threat to a woman’s life.
As many as 10,000 supporters of a referendum took part in a March for Choice in Dublin in September.As many as 10,000 supporters of a referendum took part in a March for Choice in Dublin in September.
As The Guardian reports, abortion could be a central issue in Ireland’s next general election, expected early next year, because the Irish Labour Party could make a referendum on the issue a condition of joining any new coalition government.As The Guardian reports, abortion could be a central issue in Ireland’s next general election, expected early next year, because the Irish Labour Party could make a referendum on the issue a condition of joining any new coalition government.
Still, there is passionate opposition to any change among Irish conservatives. Senator Jim Walsh denounced what he called “the abortion holocaust” taking place outside Ireland in remarks on Thursday.Still, there is passionate opposition to any change among Irish conservatives. Senator Jim Walsh denounced what he called “the abortion holocaust” taking place outside Ireland in remarks on Thursday.
In May, Mr. Walsh suggested that the money spent on a referendum that removed the country’s ban on same-sex marriage would have been better spent “to provide free H.I.V. testing to people who are homosexual.”In May, Mr. Walsh suggested that the money spent on a referendum that removed the country’s ban on same-sex marriage would have been better spent “to provide free H.I.V. testing to people who are homosexual.”