The Abortion Working Group – comprising over 20 civil society organisations and healthcare providers, led by the National Women’s Council (NWC) - has submitted a report to the review process highlighting significant ongoing issues impeding access to care and their recommendations to address these.
The Group’s recommendations are in step with the public mood, with new nationally representative research conducted by Opinions Market Research showing significant support for key asks around, decriminalisation, access to care at home and Safe Access Zones.
- 80% agree no woman in Ireland should still have to travel abroad to access abortion care
- 71% agree abortion should be treated like any other medical procedure and should not be a matter for criminal law
- 79% agree doctors should be trusted to provide abortion care based on professional judgement and clinical best practice
- 85% agree all individuals accessing and providing abortion care should be protected from threats, harassment and abuse from anti-abortion protests
- 67% agree any person on the island of Ireland should be able to access abortion free of charge
- Support was consistently strongest amongst women across all five statements, and the over 55s were the age-group most in agreement that no woman should have to travel, doctors should be trusted and all individuals accessing and providing care should be protected
The Abortion Working Group’s (AWG) detailed submission highlights that significant legal changes and practice improvements are required if the Health (Termination of Pregnancy) Act is to guarantee equal and accessible abortion access.
Recommendations include:
- Full decriminalisation of abortion in line with WHO guidance to remove the chilling effect on healthcare providers
- Remove the mandatory three days wait period to ensure timely access to abortion care
- Remove the 12-weeks gestational limit and enable abortion on request up to viability to ensure that no woman or pregnant person is forced to travel abroad for essential reproductive healthcare
