NWCI calls on the government to hold an immediate referendum to repeal the 8th amendment

Published: Thursday, June 30, 2016

Ireland’s prohibition and criminalisation of abortion services violated the human rights of a woman living in Ireland and caused her “intense physical and mental suffering” according to a ground-breaking ruling from the United Nations Human Rights Committee in mid June —a first for any international human rights court or committee.

The U.N. committee found that Ireland’s laws subjected Amanda Mellet to severe emotional and mental pain and suffering by denying her access to abortion services in Ireland. Ms Mellet was denied an abortion in Ireland in 2011 after learning that her pregnancy had a fatal foetal impairment. She subsequently travelled to the United Kingdom to undergo the procedure. The committee instructs the Irish government to act promptly and effectively to redress the harm Ms. Mellet suffered and reform its laws to ensure other women do not face similar human rights violations and to guarantee effective, timely and accessible procedures for abortion in Ireland.

Responding to the groundbreaking UN Committee ruling on Irish abortion law, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) today called on the Government to hold a referendum to repeal Article 40.3.3 (the Eighth Amendment) of the Constitution without further delay. You can view the full press release here.