Women

Amnesty International Ireland notes the reported comments of An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny with regard to the decision of the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in the case taken against Ireland by Amanda Mellet. An Taoiseach is correct when he points out that the decision of the committee is not binding in the same manner as a decision of the European Court of Human Rights. The system of international human rights law as developed by states, including Ireland, does not have courts that can enforce compliance with the treaties.

The UN Human Rights Committee’s ground-breaking decision that Ireland’s law prohibiting and criminalizing abortion violated the human rights of a woman who had a diagnosis of fatal foetal impairment will advance women’s rights in Ireland and beyond, said Amnesty International today.

A court's decision today to release a woman who spent four years in jail in El Salvador for miscarrying her pregnancy is a great victory for human rights, said Amnesty International.

María Teresa Rivera, 33, was jailed in 2011 and sentenced to 40 years in prison for “aggravated homicide” after having a miscarriage.

"The release of María Teresa is yet another step towards justice in a country where women are treated as mere second class citizens," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International 

Responding to another ‘abortion pills’ case which came before the courts in Belfast this morning - of a woman accused of supplying pills for her daughter to have a miscarriage - Amnesty International Northern Ireland Director Patrick Corrigan said:

Tell the next Irish Government that it MUST expand access to abortion

Ireland’s laws on abortion violate the human rights of women and girls. And people in Ireland want that to end. 87% want expanded access to abortion. 69% think this should be a priority for the next government and 73% want a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment.

• Walter Parewijck
• Joseph Karanja
• Dr. Emily Mcmanus
• John Nyamu Muchai
• Dr. Peadar O'Grady (Child Psychiatrist)
• Ismat Saeed
• Dr. Ross Kelly
• Justns Eze
• Dr. Mary Favier
• Ashalata Merllerpu
• Rosa Corr
• Grenze
• Dr. Ciara Flynn
• Dr. Shira Ferdi
• Jeannine Webster (Midwife)
• Mario Samvaidina
• Dr. Dwyer Marion
• Ernesto David
• Ana Rakovac
• Rupak Sarkar
• Dr.

Law reforms would be ‘important first steps’ to reaching global human rights standards

7 in 10 Northern Ireland people back abortion law reform - poll

Proposed amendments to Northern Ireland’s law on abortion would be “important first steps” to bringing the region into line with international human rights standards and protecting women and girls’ fundamental rights, Amnesty International has said.

DUBLIN, 4 February 2016 - The next government must take urgent action to bring its draconian abortion laws in line with its international human rights obligations, Amnesty International said today following the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s assessment of the state’s approach to children’s rights. The Committee today issued its Concluding Observations on Ireland’s third and fourth periodic reports under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Governments & aid agencies fail to provide basic protection to women refugees