The Issue That Will Not Go Away

The issue of women's rights in Ireland has been thrust centre stage yet again, as a result of a young rape victim being denied access to pregnancy termination services.  And once again international media attention has focussed on Ireland with its reluctance to fall into line with European standards governing the rights of women.

    

The woman denied the termination gave a harrowing account of her experience to the Irish Times in which she said, “I was raped in my country. I did not know I was pregnant until I came here.”

Ireland has had a powerful religious anti-abortion lobby which has campaigned against women having the right to terminate their pregnancies.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta speaks at press conference organised by SPUC (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children) 2nd August 1982. From Left: Mother Teresa, Menia Aitken, Development Officer for SPUC, Ireland

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