Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Pro Choice Campaigning

dublin | gender and sexuality | event notice

Monday January 22, 2007 16:38

by Jane

Open Meeting

The meeting will take place at 3pm on Saturday 27th January in the Central Hotel, Exchequer St.

"Pro-Choice Campaigning" is intended to be a working meeting as opposed to one involving speakers and questions. There will be a series of workshops designed to produce realistic and practical ideas about how we can advance the pro choice campaign in Ireland today.

It’s time to put the issue of Abortion Rights in Ireland back on the agenda.

Abortion is an issue that politicians and newspapers don’t want to talk about anymore.

In comparison to the years surrounding the referenda, column inches in the press devoted to the issue of reproductive rights have diminished remarkably.

But the situation in Ireland hasn’t changed.

The women who travel daily from this country to the UK for abortions continue to be ignored.
Ireland is maintaining its position as one of the strictest countries in the world in terms of reproductive rights – only the Vatican City and Malta rival Ireland at European level.

Successive governments have failed to legislate along the lines of the X Case decision, which ruled that abortion should be allowed in cases where the woman’s life was in danger.
As a result, doctors are left in an unacceptable position, unsure of whether they are legally able to perform a termination in any cases at all.

This situation will never change unless those of us who care about these issues become involved in a broad campaigning movement working for womens’ rights in Ireland.

This will be a functional meeting, using working groups and facilitators designed to produce practical and workable ideas rather than merely a string of speakers.

People of all political persuasions and none are encouraged to attend.

A diversity of tactics, ideas and approaches is what is hoped will be produced by this meeting, in order to establish a broad based campaign aimed at improving and increasing reproductive rights in this country.
Agenda

Workshop 1 – Abortion: A class analysis – Facilitated by Aileen O'Carroll (Workers' Solidarity Movement)
Workshop 2 – Pro-choice outreach campaigning – Facilitated by Ailbhe Smyth (Womens' Education and Research Resource Centre, UCD)
Workshop 3 – Direct Action – Facilitated by Aoife Cooke (RAG Collective)

This agenda is open to change and suggestions on the day.

The meeting will take place at 3pm on Saturday 27th January in the Central Hotel, Exchequer St.

(Hosted by Labour Youth - everyone is welcome)

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Comments (4 of 4)

Good

by Tom

Tue Jan 23, 2007 15:14

Looks like a decent enough event. Shame there hasnt been much pro choice stuff organised recently. Can't keep sticking our heads in the sand forever...

Main Labour Party position on the pro choice issue i think is probably a little different to those that could be espoused at this event though.

Tom

by pat c

Tue Jan 23, 2007 16:02

Most parties have a bad record on a womans right to choose. The Socialist Party would have the best position and support a womans right to choose. The Labour Party isnt as good as this but does have a fairly advanced position, I think SF support some limited abortion rights.

Labour Party - Kid's Section

by M Cotton

Tue Jan 23, 2007 17:28

Im sure lots of the Labour Youth people are genuinely supportive of pro-choice but I smell a rat. Young Labour seem to be able to argue for policies that are not actually official Labour policies with impunity, while older members who question the Party find themselves traduced in the press with no redress or acknowledgment of the wrong done.

Im sure Rabbitte et al are quite happy for Young Labour to warm up the perception of the party among younger voters and those who would not actually support their official line. It might well draw in extra voters who can then be told - 'Oh that was just the kids getting carried away', we never actually said we would support this issue.

Read what it says on the tin

by My bollox

Tue Jan 23, 2007 18:45

The pro-choice campaign is 'hosted' by Labour youth. They have kndly and openly
invited many political and direct action people to get together and discuss the issues
raised fifteen years ago byt the 'x' case judgement. which has not been enacted
by any legislature in that period.

And whilst some whom may have connections to the Sinnot /LPR and conservative
political ethos- they will not voice here their opposition to a basic right- the right to
therapeutic abortion freely, safely and legally in Ireland.

Instead they will troll and use any method of attack to query motivation, because it
feeds into their overt political agenda. so Miriam, call a spade a spade- or failing
this realise that everyone knows what you do - and get a job on the 'voice'
or catholic herald. your views and feminism are always welcome- but maybe
you target audience is 'cottoned' on.

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Comments (4 of 4)