Launch of Together for Yes!
Published: Friday, April 13, 2018
On March 22, leading figures from the legal, medical, and political worlds officially launched “Together For Yes”, the national civil society campaign to remove the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution.
The National Women’s Council of Ireland is thrilled to join with the Abortion Rights Campaign and the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment to lead this national campaign.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Catherine McGuinness and consultant obstetrician Dr Peter Boylan were key speakers at launch event, which took place in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Foundation. Other speakers included Wicklow couple Gerry and Gaye Edwards, who have personal experience of fatal foetal anomaly, and the campaign’s three co-Directors, Orla O’Connor, Ailbhe Smyth and Grainne Griffin.
The launch was also attended by a range of cross-sectoral civil society groups including the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Women’s Aid, Irish Family Planning Association, the Union of Students in Ireland, the Well Woman Centre and One Family. It also attracted cross-party political support.
Orla O’Connor, director of NWCI and co- director of Together for Yes said: “Together For Yes is the national civil society campaign to remove the 8th amendment from the constitution. We are a movement which has support in every community, town and village in Ireland. We represent those people who believe that Ireland is a compassionate and contemporary country and that our laws should support, respect and protect women in their time of greatest need.”
Ailbhe Smyth, co-director of Together for Yes said: “We know that people want to put an end to the suffering and distress, to the lonely journeys women have to make across the sea to England, an end to the bleakness of taking abortion pills on their own, in secret, because they can’t get the care they need here in Ireland. Our campaign believes that Irish women deserve care and compassion. We will only achieve this through change – by voting YES to remove the Eighth Amendment.”
Gráinne Griffin, co-director of Together for Yes added: “Ireland is ready to talk, and our people are ready to listen. We already have hundreds of volunteers ready to canvass and engage with people all around Ireland, and we look forward to welcoming many more in the coming weeks. We need everyone to talk to your neighbours, family and friends and explain to them why you will be voting YES and what it will mean to you.”
If you would like more information on the campaign you can visit the Together for Yes website to:
Follow the campaign on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @Together4Yes
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