Ireland: Mass rally in Dublin in favor of abortion rights Sep. 30

Event

On Saturday, September 30, tens of thousands of protesters marched from Dublin’s Parnell Square to the gates of the Irish parliament, and hundreds more rallied in front of the British Embassy, in favor of abortion rights. It marks the first major pro-choice rally since the Taoiseach - the Irish prime minister - announced that a referendum on abortion rights would be held in May or June 2018.

Meanwhile, a series of pro-life events were held throughout the city and across Ireland to protest the proposed liberalization of abortion laws.

Abortion continues to be a divisive issue in the Catholic-majority country and both pro-choice and pro-life supporters are set to carry out lengthy and 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.