Why This English Girl Supports Repeal the 8th

Why Irish Abortion Laws matter to me

As a fan of BBC’s Call the Midwife, I’ve seen the desperate lengths women resorted to in order to abort unwanted children: backstreet abortions, taking unprescribed drugs, and self-abortion that was too graphic to describe. Of course, this was reflecting the lives of women 50/60 years ago and to most of us, it seems unimaginable that scenes similar to those portrayed on TV in a 1950s based show can still occur today in the UK and neighboring countries. I am, of course, referring to Ireland, both North and Republic. For those who are unaware, abortion is currently illegal across Ireland, but this could change Friday 25 May when the public gets to vote on whether the laws should be overturned.

Yes, the scenarios mentioned above are on the rare occurring side of the spectrum but they still occur. In fact, two to three women every day buy unprescribed and therefore unmonitored abortion pills online. That’s two to three women every day putting unknown substances into their bodies with no medical follow up should things go wrong. Add to the fact that when things do go wrong and they frequently do, the poor woman has to suffer not only the psychological and mental trauma but they will also be socially stigmatised, and that’s just those who self-prescribe. Those who are daring (desperate) enough to go through with an illegal backstreet abortion are putting their lives and long-term health at risk. Methods used in these situations can range from the insertion of a sharp object to rupture the amniotic sac to digesting/ inserting poison, as well as the aforementioned illegal abortive medications. All this can cause infection, scarring, permanent infertility, and potentially in extreme cases, death.

So why do it, you ask? Good question. You don’t have to be pro-abortion (and I’m not) to empathize with women who may be distraught enough to do any of the above or the more common method—to take the lonely trip to a foreign country to make a life-changing decision with no support and feeling like a leper. Reasons can be rape, abusive relationships, underage, bad circumstances such as being unable to support a child or the child will be born with a defect so severe they will suffer unmeasurably and then die shortly after the birth. I know people will argue why get pregnant in the first place, it’s God’s plan etc., etc. The thing is, accidents do happen and a child should not suffer by being born into the world unwanted and unloved. It seems to me to be cruel to bring an unwanted child into a world or a child who will suffer unimaginable pain.

Although, I have never been in the situation where I have had to make that difficult choice (and believe me, it will never be an easy one) I am fortunate enough to live in a country where abortion is legal and I would never have to resort to barbaric methods or travel overseas to do so. So why do I support the Repeal the 8th movement if it doesn’t affect me? Because I believe in free choice. I believe in women’s rights and can easily empathise with those it does affect. On a more personal level, I have family in Northern Ireland who could easily be affected by abortion laws, and by the Republic voting Yes to the repeal, it will hopefully have a knock on effect and NI will follow suit. If not, it will make it easier for Northern Irish women; rather than travelling overseas—which some may still do—they can cross just one physical border.

To those still not convinced as to why a pro-abortion law would ever be a good idea, let me give you some facts:

• Since 1985, 200,000 women have travelled to the mainland UK for abortions. Some stayed and never returned to their families.
• Since 1975, when abortion was made illegal in Ireland, the number of deaths linked to abortion has risen into the thousands. Worldwide, an estimated 4.7 – 13.2 percent of maternal deaths are linked to unsafe abortion (World Health Organisation.)
• Any woman who is raped and decides to abort her rapist’s baby is likely to be criminally prosecuted.

If that still hasn’t convinced some of you to support the Repeal, despite being English I highlight the case of Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012. Ms. Halappanavar was pregnant with her first child when she experienced excruciating pain and appeared to be miscarrying. She was admitted to a hospital in Galway, where she begged to be induced but due to the country’s laws, she was prohibited. Savita then went on to lose the baby and die of sepsis caused by the miscarriage. I for one do not want this to happen to anyone else in Ireland and not in NI either, but it could.

This could happen to someone I care about and that scares me and also how would I feel in that situation? To wish for an abortion but be denied my right? How would any of us? A friend of mine had to have an abortion unsupported once due to religious beliefs and the repercussions were devastating to her mental health. This resulted in me finding her covered in blood after a failed suicide attempt. This was in England, a country she knew, but for those terrified women coming overseas, it would be 100 times worse. For those wondering, my friend is fine and now has two wonderful children and she doesn’t regret her decision. She just wished she’d had more support and guidance. She also said that it should be stricter over here, which is the good thing about Ireland’s proposed laws. Women would be unable to have an abortion after 12 weeks unless in extreme circumstance and counseling and two medical professionals need to be consulted. This would make it one of the safest abortion policies in Europe, safer more so than the UK.

So, that’s why this English girl who’s never been pregnant supports the Repeal the 8th movement, because #Itrustwomen. Let individuals decide what’s right for them; not some outdated law made by people who have never been in the situation where abortion feels like their only choice.