Irish Woman Forced to Travel Abroad for Abortion Brings Case to U.N. (PRESS RELEASE) Today the Center for Reproductive Rights filed a case before the United Nations Human Rights Committee on behalf of Amanda Mellet who, due to Ireland’s restrictive abortion law, was forced to travel to the United Kingdom to obtain safe and legal […]
UN Committee Rules Ireland’s Abortion Laws Violate Human Rights (Updated 03.18.21) In two landmark rulings, the United Nations Human Rights Committee determined that Ireland’s strict ban on abortion subjected women to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. For the first time in response to an individual complaint, the Committee recognized that criminalizing and prohibiting abortion violates international human rights law. The Committee instructed Ireland to prevent future violations by legalizing […]
In August 2013 the Center for Reproductive Rights submitted a letter to assist the Pre-Sessional Working Group of the Human Rights Committee in its formulation of issues for Ireland’s coming review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The letter specifically describes violations of women’s rights stemming from Ireland’s restrictive abortion law and […]
In 2005, three women challenged the Irish law on abortion after being forced to travel abroad to obtain an abortion. The Irish law currently only allows abortion when a woman’s life is in danger, and this exception is vague and difficult to interpret. The three women, Applicants A, B, and C, argued that the law […]
In a recent set of articles, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat once again puts his foot in his mouth when he argues that abortion restrictions can be compatible with gender equality. To illustrate his point, he cites countries in Europe, where second- and third-trimester abortions are restricted, and is particularly obsessed with Ireland, where […]
Ireland President Michael D. Higgins Signs Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 Into Law Legislation Only For Women Whose Live Are At Risk Fails to Expand Access to Safe and Legal Abortion (PRESS RELEASE) Today Ireland’s President Michael Higgins signed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 into law. The abortion legislation is […]
Ireland To Enact Abortion Legislation Only For Women Whose Lives Are At Risk Seanad Approves Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, Legislation Fails to Expand Access to Safe and Legal Abortion (PRESS RELEASE) After a week of deliberations, the Irish Seanad (Senate) passed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 Tuesday night in a […]
Irish Law Passes, Bringing Moderate Change https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ireland-71213.jpg The Irish Parliament finally passed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill after months of controversy and several days of contentious debate. The new law will offer legal clarity to the circumstances under which Irish women can get a legal abortion. Those circumstances will remain narrow, though, and […]
Dáil Approves Ireland Abortion Legislation Only For Women Whose Lives Are At Risk Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 Goes to the Seanad For Final Vote, Legislation Fails to Expand Access to Safe and Legal Abortion (PRESS RELEASE) After a contentious debate, the Dáil (House of Representatives) passed the Protection of Life During Pregnancy […]
Ireland’s Law a Modest Step Forward https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/crr_ireland_6.13.13.jpg Technically, abortion has been legal in Ireland for two decades, but under extremely narrow circumstances. In practical terms, though, legal exceptions to a near total ban on abortion were either unclear or disregarded or both. Many women were denied legal health services as a result, sometimes with tragic […]