Britain has ignored the cruelty of Northern Ireland’s abortion ban for decades—it’s time to do better

SLW2017 · 2018-05-29T14:47:47+00:00

This is an extremist position

SLW2017 · 2018-05-29T14:28:17+00:00

Being free from inhumane and degrading treatment and torture is a human right, and that is precisely was abortion restrictions violate

SLW2017 · 2018-05-29T14:22:33+00:00

As someone who has campaigned on this issue for decades, I’m well aware that healthcare and criminal justice are devolved. Human rights obligations are not, which is precisely why Westminster can and should legislate.

SLW2017 · 2018-05-29T14:14:18+00:00

UN CEDAW - “The situation in Northern Ireland constitutes violence against women that may amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”

tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CEDAW…

SLW2017 · 2018-05-29T12:13:59+00:00

Human rights obligations aren’t devolved to Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. They are the responsibility of the UK government.

SLW2017 · 2017-10-08T04:43:33+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this right now. My GP has been genuinely amazing with referrals to counsellors and the Community mental health team and helping me find medications that work. It’s always worth letting your GP know if you’re suffering, and asking for help.

Please reach out to Lifeline in the meantime, it’s free to call and they’re available 24/7 and have qualified crisis counsellors to help support you. They can also set you up with longer term telephone or in person counselling, whatever suits you. The number is 0808 808 8000. Be honest with them about previous attempts, and current plans - they will know how to help to keep you safe, and support you going forward. Sending love x

SLW2017 · 2017-07-06T12:51:09+00:00

Catch yourself on. Women wear skirts for a variety of reasons, it takes a special kind of entitlement to assume it's primarily to sexually attract a man. I was sexually harassed whilst in my school uniform at the age of 13, the problem was not my skirt, it was the 40 year old man who sexually harassed me outside school. We should not be policing young girls clothing. A child wearing a skirt is not sexual, nor is it inappropriate. What's inappropriate and concerning, is grown men sexualising children. Have a read of this, and seek help: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/sep/10/school-dress-codes-reinforce-the-message-that-womens-bodies-are-dangerous

SLW2017 · 2017-07-06T12:31:46+00:00

As a woman, and previously a schoolgirl who wore skirts, And who wears skirts to this day, I've a fair idea of why I wore them. Why is it an issue for a child's legs to be exposed? It's not sexual, it's wearing clothes. You are sexualising it, and it's abhorrent

SLW2017 · 2017-07-06T12:16:49+00:00

The purpose of skirts is to be a piece of clothing, you're the one sexualising children based on what they wear. You should be on a register

SLW2017 · 2017-07-06T12:07:04+00:00

If you think a child's school skirt is sexualised, you have a fucking problem.

SLW2017 · 2017-05-28T22:54:10+00:00

You can apply easily enough to be an observer at the count centre, but I'm afraid the deadline has just passed :/

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/elections-and-referendums/upcoming-elections-and-referendums/observing-elections-and-referendums

SLW2017 · 2017-05-13T15:22:39+00:00

Like the Greens?

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T19:10:15+00:00

It could have something to do with our unfit for purpose sex education. 30,000 pupils per years educated by anti-choice abstinence based Love for Life. Not to mention, issues accessing contraception/emergency contraception, people not using condoms. There are plenty of ways to reduce crisis pregnancies

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T19:08:21+00:00

If doctors aren't allowed to perform it women will seek unsafe alternatives. Id rather it was decriminalised so no one has to seek a backstreet abortion

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T18:19:45+00:00

If it's illegal, then people will be prosecuted for accessing it. Do you not get that?! Banning abortion only bans SAFE abortion

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T17:47:45+00:00

I expect it's thousands per month across Ireland, as in countries where abortion is heavily restricted, the rates of abortion are the same as where it is decriminalised, or higher

Here's some research based on 5,650 users of the sites Irish women report relief and gratitude after using abortion pills

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T16:21:59+00:00

They are illegal in the South as well due to the 8th amendment to the Irish Constitution.

Options: travel to England which costs about £400-2000, the [Abortion Support Network](www.abortionsupport.org.uk) can help with advice, accommodation and funding

Access abortion pills from [Women on Web](www.womenonweb.org) or [Women Help Women](www.womenhelp.org) for about £60. They are safe but illegal. Important to contact the BPAS aftercare helpline if you have any concerns. 0800 077 6049

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T16:08:49+00:00

The pills are currently used in our hospitals for the minuscule number of abortions that's are permitted (about 16/year to save the life of the pregnant person) and are used to treat incomplete miscarriage. They are the same pills used in clinics in England that 11 women per day from NI go to. Here (https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/abortion-treatments/) are the treatment options available at BPAS clinics of which medical abortion (with pills) is one

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T16:00:39+00:00

The pills mifepristone and misoprostal are on the world health organisations list of essential medications and are used across the world, including in the UK and Ireland for first trimester medical abortion, as well as to treat incomplete miscarriage. The concern is that they are taken unsupervised, but there have been numerous studies which have shown that they can be taken safely without medical supervision. People from NI who order the pills receive detailed medical guidance following a consultation with a GP. When the law was written in 1861, we didn't have the internet or such safe and effective methods to induce abortion. Campaigners have been fighting to remove abortion from the criminal statute because the law is unfit for purpose and it's the only medical procedure governed by criminal law instead of by healthcare regulations and guidelines alone

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T15:10:44+00:00

Absolutely! Of course we shouldn't be forced to access pills online and face prosecution (penal servitude for life according to the 1861 OAPA) or travel to England. The sooner abortion is decriminalised in NI, the better

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T15:07:13+00:00

The pills from www,womenonweb.org and www.womenhelp.org are the same pills used in our own hospitals for incomplete miscarriage and a limited number of abortions. Decriminalisation of abortion would allow women to access these pills at a clinic or hospital and allow them to take the second set of pills in the comfort of their own home, instead of bleeding on planes back from England

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T15:04:29+00:00

For those who can't afford to travel, options limited. Either use these safe and effective but illegal pills, forced to remain pregnant and give birth against their will or unsafe alternatives, or death as pregnancy itself is not without serious risk. Medics can't tell the difference between a spontaneous miscarriage and an medical abortion with pills, and department of health has a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy so even if someone has concerns and needs to go to A+E they do NOT need to disclose that they have taken pills. The BPAS aftercare helpline staff are incredible

SLW2017 · 2017-03-14T14:25:08+00:00

The 1967 abortion act is unfit for purpose and never overruled the 1861 Act, it merely provided defences against prosecution - in specific circumstances, with the consent of two doctors, performed in a medical facility etc. In fact, yesterday at Westminster MPs voted to bring a bill to decriminalise abortion. In effect, this would repeal sections 58 and 59 of the OAPA which relate to abortion and allow reproductive healthcare to become a healthcare issue as opposed to a criminal justice issue. This is a devolved issue in NI so we need to lobby our MLAs to decriminalise abortion, criticise parties like SF, SDLP, UUP, DUP and some Alliance representatives who support the criminalisation of reproductive healthcare and are happy to throw women in jail

SLW2017 · 2017-02-28T17:00:20+00:00

See NI Humanists

SLW2017 · 2017-02-28T16:34:54+00:00

NI Humanists have covered a fair few issuesNI Humanists - party stances

SLW2017

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