Restrictive Abortion Information Legislation Jeopardises Women’s Health

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | feature Saturday March 06, 2004 14:13 by Niav - Alliance For Choice

International Womens Day: Alliance for Choice to Publicly Break Terms of 1995 Act

Press Release for Alliance For Choice.

Event: Day of Action against the Information Act! (Pro-Choice Protest).

Venue: Department of Justice, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.

Time: Monday 8th March (International Women's Day) 12.30 pm.

‘Alliance For Choice’ will be publicly breaking the 1995 Information Act outside the Department of Justice in Dublin on Monday 8th March. The ‘Regulation of Information (Services outside the State for Terminations of Pregnancies) Act 1995’ or more commonly known as the ‘Abortion Information Act 1995’ severely restricts Irish people’s access to information about abortion services abroad. The legislation has serious implications for the protection of women’s welfare when they are faced with a crisis pregnancy. The Act sets out the conditions under which information (the names, addresses and telephone numbers of abortion clinics) may be given, by individuals or agencies, on legal abortion services available outside Ireland. Under the terms of the Act, information can only be given in the context of face-to-face counselling. It is illegal for a doctor to make an appointment with an abortion service on behalf of a pregnant woman, even if her health is at risk.

Commenting Niav Keating said: “By restricting Irish people’s access to information about abortion services abroad, the Irish government is placing unnecessary stress and strain on Irish women. This form of censorship cannot be allowed to continue. Irish women must be able to obtain information easily in order to allow them to make informed decisions when facing an unexpected pregnancy. Despite the difficulties caused by the Act, more than 6,000 women per year have abortions in Britain. We demand that the 1995 Information Act be repealed so that women can obtain information with anonymity and ease. We also call for the regulation of all agencies offering pregnancy counselling. We will be publicly distributing leaflets that include the names and telephone numbers of clinics in the United Kingdom and Europe on International Women’s Day. We see this action as an act of civil disobedience similar to the actions of the women involved in the Contraceptive Train who in 1971 travelled to Belfast and purchased contraceptives. On their return to Dublin they challenged the customs officers at Connolly Train station by openly declaring their illegal imports.“

Alliance for Choice: Background
AFC Information for Irish women about abortion services in the UK and Europe

FULL TEXT OF ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION

Press Release for Alliance For Choice.

Event: Day of Action against the Information Act! (Pro-Choice Protest).

Venue: Department of Justice, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2.

Time: Monday 8th March (International Women's Day) 12.30 pm.

‘Alliance For Choice’ will be publicly breaking the 1995 Information Act outside the Department of Justice in Dublin on Monday 8th March. The ‘Regulation of Information (Services outside the State for Terminations of Pregnancies) Act 1995’ or more commonly known as the ‘Abortion Information Act 1995’ severely restricts Irish people’s access to information about abortion services abroad. The legislation has serious implications for the protection of women’s welfare when they are faced with a crisis pregnancy. The Act sets out the conditions under which information (the names, addresses and telephone numbers of abortion clinics) may be given, by individuals or agencies, on legal abortion services available outside Ireland. Under the terms of the Act, information can only be given in the context of face-to-face counselling. It is illegal for a doctor to make an appointment with an abortion service on behalf of a pregnant woman, even if her health is at risk.

Commenting Niav Keating said:
“By restricting Irish people’s access to information about abortion services abroad, the Irish government is placing unnecessary stress and strain on Irish women. This form of censorship cannot be allowed to continue. Irish women must be able to obtain information easily in order to allow them to make informed decisions when facing an unexpected pregnancy. Despite the difficulties caused by the Act, more than 6,000 women per year have abortions in Britain. We demand that the 1995 Information Act be repealed so that women can obtain information with anonymity and ease. We also call for the regulation of all agencies offering pregnancy counselling. We will be publicly distributing leaflets that include the names and telephone numbers of clinics in the United Kingdom and Europe on International Women’s Day. We see this action as an act of civil disobedience similar to the actions of the women involved in the Contraceptive Train who in 1971 travelled to Belfast and purchased contraceptives. On their return to Dublin they challenged the customs officers at Connolly Train station by openly declaring their illegal imports. “

Commenting Clare Lee said:
“The Crisis Pregnancy Agency, established by the Irish government, are currently engaged in a nation-wide ‘Positive Options’ campaign that tells us that “the positive way to deal with a crisis, is to consider your options”. However, only 3 of the 6 organisations listed by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency will provide Irish women with information about all their options - adoption, abortion and parenting. Non-directive counselling is only offered by the Irish Family Planning Association, the Dublin Well Woman Clinic and Cherish. At present, counselling services in Ireland are not regulated which means that any individual or group can establish a counselling service and this is an outrageous situation.”

Quotes end.

‘Alliance For Choice’ is a diverse group of pro-choice activists who are campaigning for free, safe and legal abortion services in Ireland.