The Workers’ Party has welcomed the recent decision of the United Nations Human Rights Committee which found that Ireland’s criminalisation and prohibition of abortion violates this country’s human rights obligations.
Cllr. Éilis Ryan
Dublin Central Workers’ Party Councillor Éilis Ryan said, “this party applauds the courage of Amanda Mellet in taking her case which will have far reaching positive consequences for the many women whose rights are violated by Ireland’s abortion rules. Those rules have been found by the committee to be discriminatory and subject women to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and to be in violation of Articles 7 and 26 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights”.
The decision in this case, argues the Workers’ Party, makes it incumbent on the Government to hold a referendum to remove the 8th Amendment to the Constitution without delay. According to the Committee, Ireland is ”under an obligation to take steps to prevent similar violations occurring in the future. To this end the State party should amend its law on voluntary termination of pregnancy, including if necessary its Constitution, to ensure compliance with the Covenant, including ensuring effective, timely and accessible procedures for pregnancy termination in Ireland, and take measures to ensure that health-care providers are in a position to supply full information on safe abortion services without fearing being subjected to criminal sanctions”.
Workers’ Party public meeting on Repeal the 8th
Cllr Ryan continued, “Numerous opinion polls in recent times have indicated that the Irish people want change in relation to our abortion laws. The most recent Amnesty International/ Red C Research and Marketing Poll found that an overwhelming majority of people consider Ireland’s near total abortion ban cruel, inhumane and discriminatory. This view concurs with that of the UN Human Rights committee”.
She concluded, “This is not something the government can simply dismiss as an inconvenience or sweep away with a PR response. The Workers’ Party demands that the government sets a definite date for the holding of a referendum to Repeal the 8th Amendment this year and a solid commitment to advocating for repeal of this shameful amendment”.