NWCI supports women with fatal foetal abnormalities taking a case to United Nations for their fundamental human rights

Published: Wednesday, November 13, 2013

At the Terminations for Medical Reasons press conference today, National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) issues support for the three women who are filing petitions with the United Nations Human Rights Committee, after being forced to travel to Britain to terminate their pregnancies following diagnoses that they were unviable.

Orla O’Connor, Director of National Women’s Council of Ireland said,
“The current system in Ireland which sees women travel to other jurisdictions for a safe and legal termination ignores the practical and financial implications of making such a journey, and stigmatises the women forced to make such a decision. At such a difficult time for couples, when women should have been offered support by the Irish State, they were ignored.”  

Orla O’Connor added
“It is shameful that women in Ireland must go to the United Nations Human Rights Committee to assert their basic human rights.”

Orla O’Connor concluded
“The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill will not protect mothers who are faced with such difficult and traumatic situations, the Bill lacks the provision to deal with terminations in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities.  The NWCI is fully in support of the women taking their case.”

Ends/

For more information, please contact Sarah Clarkin, Communications Officer, National Women’s Council of Ireland, Tel. 085 858 9104.