By Sally Jane Black
In a major victory in Ireland, after a long struggle, the people have voted overwhelmingly to repeal the Eighth Amendment of their Constitution. Despite enormous opposition from conservative institutions (including the church), the Irish people achieved the repeal with over 66% of the vote in favor.
The repealed amendment was added to the Constitution in 1983 as part of backlash against legalized contraception, making Ireland’s abortion laws almost absolutely restrictive. Under these circumstances, thousands of Irish women would travel each year to other countries for abortions. Those who travel risked up to 14 years in jail for taking medication to cause miscarriages. Because of the wording on the amendment, doctors in Ireland would often disagree on what would qualify as a life-threatening risk, which led to many women’s deaths. In recent years, many of these cases, including the death of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian women who died of an infection as doctors argued over her right to an abortion, gained popular attention as organizers fought to repeal the amendment.
A massive grassroots movement under the banner Together for Yes united women from across Ireland including migrant women and trans people affected by the laws. The struggle against the amendment achieved a massive turnout at the referendum and a landslide victory. The victory will be followed by continued struggle, as the repeal only opens the door for new laws and not a complete legalization. This is just the most recent in a long line of victories where Irish women have fought for control over their own bodies and choices in the face of significant repression.