NWCI welcomes offer of compensation to Ms Amanda Mellet

Published: Thursday, December 15, 2016

The National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) welcomed the offer of compensation by Minister for Health, Simon Harris, to Amanda Mellet arising from ruling of the UN Committee on Human Rights.  

The Government must now take action to ensure women are no longer subjected to suffering and discrimination as a result of Ireland’s restrictive abortion regime, and NWCI called on the Government to announce a date for a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment from the Constitution.

This offer of compensation has a wider significance. It’s an admission that the Government is failing women in Ireland in a horrendous manner and subjecting them to what is now recognised as inhumane and degrading treatment. It's an admission that we must remove the Eighth Amendment from our Constitution to provide women with appropriate supports and choices in pregnancy. 

You can see the full press release here.