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Ireland to hold May referendum on abortion law reform
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| Contributor | IndyGeorgia |
| Last Edited | IndyGeorgia Jan 29, 2018 05:02pm |
| Category | News |
| News Date | Jan 29, 2018 03:00pm |
| Description | Ireland will hold a referendum in May on reforming the country’s strict anti-abortion laws, according to the country’s health minister.
Simon Harris confirmed on Monday that the national plebiscite will also allow for the Irish parliament to later devise legislation that would permit abortion in Ireland’s hospitals for women who are up to 12 weeks pregnant.
The Fine Gael-led administration met to discuss the terms of the referendum to abolish the eighth amendment of the Irish constitution.
The eighth amendment was added to the republic’s constitution following a referendum in 1983. It recognises the equal right to life of a foetus and the mother during pregnancy and in effect bans abortion in almost all circumstances.
Pro-choice campaigners say the amendment creates a legal “chill factor” in the health system, even in cases where Irish law allows for a termination, such as when a pregnancy would result in the mother’s death.
They say the eighth amendment generates fears that physicians could be prosecuted and sent to prison if they carry out terminations even in extreme cases such as when women are suicidal or are made pregnant through sexual violence. |
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