by Victoria Johnston 

Amnesty International has said Ireland’s abortion law violates the human rights of women and girls. The eighth amendment to the constitution is the root cause of these violations. A vote to repeal the eighth amendment will put the human rights of women and girls at the centre of the constitution. As current laws regarding maternal care are not fit for purpose and put a woman’s right to healthcare, well-being and bodily autonomy in jeopardy.
Women could not access an abortion even if they were dying until 2012 following the death of Savita Halappanavar who died as a result of a septic miscarriage and under circumstances that could have been prevented if she had access to proper medical care. Savita is one of many women who have died as a result of the 8th amendment, whether it be through botched back street abortions, mental health problems, or through death during birth like 15 year old Ann Lovett from County Longford who died at the foot of the Virgin Mary at a grotto overlooking her home town.
Illegal and incredibly dangerous abortion will continue to happen in Ireland if the Eighth remains; whether it be through pills purchased through women on the web, unsafe back street surgical abortions or dangerous chemicals. We must also consider the history of unmarried women who had no option but to continue their pregnancies those who were then sent to the Magdalen Laundries, their children likely to be sold to the highest bidder. Some of the children in these institutions did not survive infant-hood and ended up dead, thrown in a septic tank with 800 others such as the case of the Bon Seur Home in Tuam, County Galway.
Ireland has tried to export their women sending those who can afford to travel to Britain and turning a blind eye and their back on Irish women. It is estimated that 10 women a day travel from the Republic of Ireland to access a termination. It has been reported that 3,265 women and girls gave Irish addresses at UK abortion services, this number does not show the true extent of the issue as many women give fake addresses due to fear of prosecution. 724 women travelled from Northern Ireland reminding us that lack of maternal care and compassion in crisis pregnancy is not a problem unique to our neighbours. 
In addition to this 1,642 abortion pill packages were sent to the island of Ireland in 2016 furthering emphasising that even if the referendum is lost, unregulated and dangerous abortion will still be happening in Ireland.
There is a tide rising in Ireland and an opportunity to right the wrongs of the past and create a more tolerant and compassionate society. One that can care for its women as opposed to sending them across the Irish sea. A vote to repeal the eighth amendment to the constitution will ensure that any decision surrounding a woman’s healthcare can be decided between her and her doctor, not the church, not the state, and ultimately a yes vote shows that the electorate trusts women to control their fate.

Victoria Johnston is a 20 year old student reading English at Ulster University and is the chair-elect of the Debating society. 
She is from Enniskillen.