BPAS comments on the forthcoming judgement from European Court of Human Rights on the challenge to Ireland’s abortion ban
Abortion charity bpas welcomes the announcement that a judgement will be issued next week by the European Court of Human Rights on the challenge to Ireland’s abortion ban.
On Thursday, December 16, the court will rule on whether the human rights of three women living in Ireland were violated after they were forced to travel to the UK to access safe abortion services.
The women, who argued that Ireland’s restrictive abortion laws jeopardised their health and wellbeing and violated their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, are being supported by the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) and bpas. If successful, the case would establish a minimum degree of protection to which a woman seeking an abortion to protect her health and well-being would be entitled, under the European Convention of Human Rights.
Since 1980 at least 140,000 women have travelled to Britain to access abortion services they are denied in their own country.
Bpas has cared for many of them, and the charity provided an expert submission to the court on the needs of Irish women travelling for abortion care and the problems caused by treatment delays imposed by this legal restriction.
Bpas’ chief executive Ann Furedi said:
“Contraception fails in Ireland as it does in England and Irish women have abortions, but they have them here while their political leaders look away.
“They suffer the anxiety of finding the funds for travel, often coming alone as they cannot afford to bring a partner or mother with them. The practical arrangements often means their treatment is delayed and abortions performed later than is necessary, creating an additional psychological and physical burden,
“Many are apprehensive, because where abortion is illegal myths abound, and they arrive aware they are seeking an “illicit” solution to their problem which carries its own emotional cost.”
Notes for Editors:
The case was heard on December 9th 2009 at an oral hearing before the Grand Chamber of the Court. This 17-judge court is reserved to hear cases of particular importance that raise serious questions affecting the interpretation of the European Human Rights Convention.
The first applicant had children in the care of the state as a result of personal problems and considered a further child would jeopardise the successful reunification of her existing family.
The second applicant was not prepared to become a single parent. The third applicant was in remission from cancer when she became pregnant. Unaware that she was pregnant she underwent a series of check ups contraindicated during pregnancy. She claims she could not obtain clear advice about the risks to her health and life and to the foetus if she continued to term.
For more information, or to request an interview, please call the bpas press office on 07788 725 185 or 020 7612 0206.
For a briefing on the available facts on the case and its legal context, please contact the Irish Family Planning association in Dublin on 00 353 1 806 9444
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