Savita Halappanavar was denied a termination while in hospital in Republic
THE Republic of Ireland’s draft abortion legislation is “offensive and misogynistic” in how it deals with women seeking terminations because they are suicidal.
That’s the view of an international pro-choice organisation which has heavily criticised the bill which has emerged following the death of pregnant Savita Halappavarna last year.
She was refused an abortion in a hospital in the Republic and told: Ireland is Catholic.
There has been a mixed reaction to the protection of life in pregnancy bill, which the Republic’s cabinet approved late on Tuesday night.
Under the proposed legislation, three consultants reviewing the case of a woman with suicidal thoughts while pregnant must all agree that a termination should proceed.
There is provision for an appeal by the woman to three further consultants if the first trio does not approve the abortion.
The appeal panel must also be unanimous in approval for a termination to be granted under law.
But Johanna Westeson, regional director for Europe at the Centre for Reproductive Rights criticised that part of the bill, saying: “Imposing different standards for assessing threats to life for mental health reasons and threats to life for physical ailments runs contradictory to international medical standards and human rights norms.
“To suggest that women would fake suicidal tendencies to access abortion is not only deeply offensive and misogynistic, but also in stark violation of women’s human right to be treated with dignity.
“The more barriers Ireland creates for women seeking legal abortion, the more likely women in crisis situations will opt to travel abroad than subject themselves to this humiliating process that the bill sets forth.
“This means that Ireland will continue to be in violation of its human rights obligation to make legal abortion accessible in practice.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Republic’s Taoiseach Enda Kenny told a government press briefing that the laws on abortion would not be fundamentally altered if the bill passes the Irish parliament.
Kenny said: “The law on abortion in Ireland is not being changed. Our country will continue to be one of the safest places in the world for childbirth.
“And the regulation and the clarity that will now become evident through the protection of maternal life bill will continue within the law, to assert the restrictions on abortion that have applied in Ireland and will apply in the future.”
The Irish Prime Minister added that he was determined to reform the law on abortion without dividing the country.
There are concerns within the main coalition party, Fine Gael, that any changes to the law risk splitting the party.
A number of Fine Gael backbenchers, particularly those from more conservative, rural constituencies have expressed disquiet about abortion law reform.
Fine Gael has come under heavy pressure from anti-abortion groups who have targeted the party reminding many of them that they pledged to be “pro life” and defend the rights of unborn children before the 2011 general election.
