Abortion Referendum

national | miscellaneous | feature Sunday February 17, 2002 01:06 by IMC Editorial Group - IMC Ireland

In one sentence: should a suicidal pregnant woman be prevented from obtaining an abortion in Ireland? is the question being put to the Irish people on March 6th. The question "should abortion be available in Ireland?" is not being asked in this, the fifth referendum on the subject in 20 years. Some pro-life groups have called for a no vote (Mother and Child), some for a yes vote (Pro Life Campaign), while most pro-choice groups have condemned the referendum and called for a no-vote. (Irish Family Planning Association, Alliance for a No Vote)

Pro-choice group Alliance for a No Vote (ANV) claim the referendum will criminalise the thousands of Irish women who travel to Britain each year for an abortion. At a recent ANV meeting (report) speakers denounced the referendum for its abuse of women's rights, and its failure to address the 'more money, more choice' issue. Photos, Video.

On Saturday (F16) around 250 people rallied for choice in Dublin.

Picture Credit: Workers Solidarity Movement (see their report and photos of the X case march)