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10/06/2015
Amnesty Report Claims Pregnant Women 'At Risk' In Ireland
Ireland should change the law to allow women and girls access to safe, legal abortions, Amnesty International has said.
In a report published by the charity, Amnesty said that pregnant women and girls are putting their health and lives in danger "if they remain in Ireland".
Amnesty said that their report, 'She Is Not A Criminal: The Impact of Ireland's Abortion Law', documents "shocking cases" of Irish authorities denying women and girls necessary healthcare in order to prioritise the life of the foetus – which is protected by an amendment to Ireland's constitution added in 1983.
The report states: "Only allowing abortion if the woman's life is at risk, Ireland's abortion law is one of the most restrictive in the world, forcing at least 4,000 women and girls to travel outside the country for an abortion every year at considerable mental, financial and physical cost.
"Women and girls who cannot travel are left without access to necessary health treatment, or risk criminal penalties if they undergo illegal abortions at home."
Amnesty International's Secretary General, Salil Shetty, said: "The recent Marriage Equality referendum showed a country that prides itself on being an open and inclusive society, but all is not well in the Republic of Ireland. The human rights of women and girls are violated on a daily basis because of a constitution that treats them like child-bearing vessels.
"Women and girls who need abortions are treated like criminals, stigmatized and forced to travel abroad, taking a serious toll on their mental and physical health. The Irish state can no longer ignore this reality, and the appalling impact it is having on thousands of people every year."
The report can be read in full here.
(MH/JP)
In a report published by the charity, Amnesty said that pregnant women and girls are putting their health and lives in danger "if they remain in Ireland".
Amnesty said that their report, 'She Is Not A Criminal: The Impact of Ireland's Abortion Law', documents "shocking cases" of Irish authorities denying women and girls necessary healthcare in order to prioritise the life of the foetus – which is protected by an amendment to Ireland's constitution added in 1983.
The report states: "Only allowing abortion if the woman's life is at risk, Ireland's abortion law is one of the most restrictive in the world, forcing at least 4,000 women and girls to travel outside the country for an abortion every year at considerable mental, financial and physical cost.
"Women and girls who cannot travel are left without access to necessary health treatment, or risk criminal penalties if they undergo illegal abortions at home."
Amnesty International's Secretary General, Salil Shetty, said: "The recent Marriage Equality referendum showed a country that prides itself on being an open and inclusive society, but all is not well in the Republic of Ireland. The human rights of women and girls are violated on a daily basis because of a constitution that treats them like child-bearing vessels.
"Women and girls who need abortions are treated like criminals, stigmatized and forced to travel abroad, taking a serious toll on their mental and physical health. The Irish state can no longer ignore this reality, and the appalling impact it is having on thousands of people every year."
The report can be read in full here.
(MH/JP)
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Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
