In Ireland the the Eighth Amendment was overturned which ultimately was a constitutional ban on abortion within the country. The country participated in a referendum in May which voted to overturn the abortion ban. Many people hope that abortions will be available to the public, free of charge, by January. The bill still must be passes by Irish Parliament in order for it to become a law. Those in favor of passing the law see this a large step in regards to women’s rights and women’s equality. A large portion of the country is still against abortions and doctors would be able to refuse to do the medical procedure due to conscientious objection. Doctors also do not want to be required to refer women seeking abortions to a doctor willing to do the procedure. The doctors request for referals to be discretionary has causes abortions to be almost inaccessible in other countries where it is technically legal.
This article really resonated with me and is about a topic I am passionate about. It brought me joy to see that Ireland was making progress within human rights. Especially one that is being heavily discussed in U.S. legislation as well. I believe abolishing the ban on abortion will be a huge step in human rights, specifically women’s rights, only if the ban is properly protected. The idea of having ‘safe access’ zones around clinics is a great idea that should be shared with other countries. It recognizes the controversy surrounding abortion and ultimately plans to protect women that are making a difficult decision about their lives. While conscientious objection is necessary because abortion obviously goes against some doctors religious and ethical views, it should still be required that a doctor unwilling to do the procedure refers a patient to another doctor. The doctors right should be to refuse to perform the procedure not to prevent it from happening or inhibit a woman’s ability to receive the care she is seeking.