This will be a short diary, to call attention to an ongoing situation that some here may be interested in.
As many of you likely know, abortion is completely illegal in Ireland. The 8th amendment to the Irish constitution (1983) guarantees the “right to life of the unborn,” declaring it “equal to the right to life of the mother.” Abortion is also illegal in Northern Ireland, while it has been legal in the rest of the UK since 1967. The result is that girls and women from the island of Ireland who require an abortion must travel to the UK (or elsewhere) at their own expense.
Today (Saturday, 20 August) an Irish women is undertaking just such a journey, accompanied by a friend. They are tweeting under the handle Two Women Travel, and they have been documenting the trip since very early this morning (Irish/UK time):
As you’ll notice, they are tagging Enda Kenny, the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), in every tweet. There is a growing and vocal movement in Ireland, from a cross section of the population, to repeal the 8th amendment. Furthermore, the UN Commission on Human Rights has declared Ireland’s abortion laws so draconian that they “are in breach of international human rights.” Despite these facts, Kenny continues to waffle on the issue, promising to “review” the law and “gauge” public sentiment.
Several thousand girls and women travel from Ireland (north and south) to the UK for abortions every year. With additional girls and women seeking the procedure in other countries.