Whelan v. Ireland: Ireland Must Reform its Abortion Law to Prevent Violations of Women’s Human Rights

In June 2017, the United Nations Human Rights Committee
ruled for the second time that by prohibiting and criminalizing abortion, Ireland
violated a woman’s fundamental human rights. In the case of Whelan v. Ireland,
the Committee held that by prohibiting Ms. Whelan from accessing abortion
services in Ireland, the state subjected her to severe mental anguish and suffering.
As a result, Ireland violated her rights to freedom from cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment, to privacy, and to equality before the law.

In this fact sheet we highlight the key aspects of this
decision.