Ireland: Abortion referendum set for May 25

Event

Irish authorities have scheduled the controversial abortion referendum for Friday, May 25. The poll will permit voters to decide if the 1983 constitutional ban is repealed and the law left to parliament to decide. Abortion continues to be a divisive issue in the Catholic-majority country and both pro-choice and pro-life supporters are expected to continue active campaigns ahead of the referendum.

Context

The Irish Constitution provides equal rights to a pregnant woman and an unborn child and abortions are illegal in the vast majority of cases, with exceptions typically only granted if the life of the mother is in danger (since 2013). Women who have had unsanctioned abortions face up to 14 years of imprisonment.

Ireland has recently faced international pressure, notably from the UN and the Council of Europe, to decriminalize abortion. According to the British Department of Health, some 3000 Irish women traveled to England in 2016 to have the procedure, although activists estimate numbers to be much higher.

Advice

Individuals in Ireland are advised to avoid all major demonstrations a precaution.