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The NWCI welcomes European Court ruling and calls on Government to legislate for women’s right to fu

Published: Wednesday, December 15, 2010

NATIONAL WOMEN'S COUNCIL WELCOMES EUROPEAN COURT RULING AND CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE FOR WOMEN'S RIGHT TO FULL REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS.


The National Women's Council of Ireland welcomes the ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that Ireland has failed to vindicate women's constitutional rights, and calls on the government to legislate for a woman's right to have an abortion if her life is at risk. The court found that the Irish government had offered 'no explanation' as to why it had failed to legislate on the issue. 'This ruling is binding and the government must now legislate,' said the NWCI's chief executive, Susan McKay. 'The government tried to claim that its cowardly position was based on 'profound moral values'. This was a shameful defence – how can forcing women with life threatening illnesses to go abroad for a medical procedure be moral? The decision to have an abortion is not a happy one or one that can be lightly taken, but there are circumstances in which it is necessary.'

 

The NWCI congratulated the woman in the case for her courage in pursuing it, and commended the Irish Family Planning Association, a member of the NWCI, for supporting her case. 'The struggle for women to have full reproductive rights in this country has been a long and hard fought one,' said McKay. 'This judgement is an important victory for women.' [ends]