On Friday 25th of May 2018 the people of the Republic of Ireland are heading to the polls to vote in what may turn out to be one of the most life-changing legislative decisions for women in Irish history. Women have been subject to criminal liability for accessing abortions in Ireland since 1961, although the fear, stigma, pain, and danger associated with a termination of pregnancy has hounded them for many decades before this.
Throughout the campaign period leading up to this crucial referendum, we have read devastating personal accounts bravely put forward by Irish women of their own experiences with abortion. Their stories have recounted afterbirths left to rot in the womb, tragic stillbirths, doctors forced to deny patients care in the face of unbelievable suffering, and lonely flights across the Irish Sea to access abortion where it is safe and legal.
Of course, we have also had to contend with the scaremongering and shame tactics of those campaigning in favour of a ‘No’ vote. Their arguments have ranged from the conservative, to the fundamentalist, to the downright misogynistic – and all operate on the notion that women are not to be trusted with their own bodies.
Whilst a ‘Yes’ vote in this referendum would enable a logical legal change that will improve the health and wellbeing of tens of thousands of women, its effects will extend far beyond this. It would represent a recognition of women as autonomous, responsible, and deserving of the opportunity to have the final word when it comes to their own wellbeing. Essentially, it is a recognition of their humanity on a par with that of men, who have always had the opportunity to simply walk away from an unwanted pregnancy.
We in Plaid Ifanc would like to take this opportunity to extend our utmost admiration and solidarity with those groups and individuals across the Republic of Ireland who have lent so much energy to the ‘Yes’ campaign in the past weeks and years. Your tireless work is grounded in the feminist values which we seek to enact in our work. We would like also to offer our respects and sympathy to those incredibly brave women who have made the decision to share their own experiences of abortion throughout this campaign, as well as those who have dedicated themselves to the fight for women’s reproductive rights throughout Irish history.
