WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM
October 31, 2022 -Durt Fibo

It’s not a dangerous matter only in America. Abortion and other women’s rights are vandalized in a majority of countries around the world. In Ireland this weekend, a mass demonstration filled central Dublin to mark 10 years since Savita Halappanavar died from severe sepsis at University Hospital Galway after her request for an abortion was denied. Savita was 17 weeks pregnant and just 31 years old, with no previous medical problems. She died after an agonized week in the hospital, with her cause of death recorded as severe sepsis, E.coli in the bloodstream and a miscarriage at 17 weeks.

Savita Halappanavar’s death was a turning point in Ireland, and, ultimately, by 2018, the culpable 8th Amendment —in effect a constitutional outlawing of abortion– was repealed by a national referendum. The referendum, once it was allowed to be held, meant that the citizens, not think-tanks, politicians, or judges, made the decision.

The rallies this weekend in Ireland, chiefly in Dublin, both commemorated Halappanavar’s tragedy and called for further abortion law reform. Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council, said Ms Halappanavar’s death was a turning point in Ireland, but that “While abortion is now provided, it remains unfinished business as women and couples continue to travel as they cannot access abortion at home. Our legislation goes against the recommendations of the World Health Organization and situates abortion outside the normal range of healthcare which women need. Urgent reform is needed to decriminalize abortion, remove the three-day wait period and the 12-week limit to enable abortion on request up to viability.”

Another spokeswoman, Ruth Coppinger, a former member of the Irish Parliament and a current member of the ROSA Socialist Feminist Movement, said: “A campaign for a permanent memorial to Savita will be launched from the march as a fitting reminder that never again should religious views hold sway over human rights. Those who fought for repeal are marching today but so too are young people who don’t remember Savita, but who see the rights of women and LGBT+ people dismantled in the US and see schoolgirls bravely taking on religious dictatorship in Iran.”

You will notice in the photograph of the Dublin demonstration that banners included what has become the watchword of the Iranian rebellion: “Women, Life, Freedom”, a motto which is rapidly being adopted in many countries. Understandably so.