Abortion: what opposing sides have in common

FORTY years after the legalisation of abortion in Britain, we in Choice Ireland believe it should be legalised in Ireland.

We also believe there should be policies to reduce the rate of crisis pregnancy: free and accessible contraception, quality sex education and real supports for women who choose to go through with their pregnancies.

We campaign on these issues on the basis of women’s rights. However, we also wish to see a reduced rate of women facing crisis pregnancy. The effect of this would be a reduced abortion rate.

Given that it is impossible to eliminate Irish abortions, it can be assumed that a reduced abortion rate is also a principal aim of the anti-choice lobby.

The Netherlands has the lowest rate of abortion in the EU and some of the most liberal abortion laws in the world, whereas Ireland has an average abortion rate and a total legal ban. It is objectively clear therefore that the criminalisation of abortion is entirely ineffective in terms of reducing rates of abortion. We also campaign for legalisation because the time delay caused by the illegality of abortion leads to Irishwomen having later term abortions — the antithesis of the needs of women facing a crisis pregnancy.

Hence Choice Ireland’s campaign outcome is in keeping with the anti-choice aim of a reduced abortion rate. We call on the anti-choice lobby to join us in our campaign for legalisation as well as measures to reduce crisis pregnancies.

Louise Caffrey

Choice Ireland

59 Orwell Gardens

Orwell Road

Rathgar

Dublin 6