- A vote taking place this Friday will determine whether Ireland will repeal the 8th amendment and legalize abortion.
- The 8th amendment is the part of the Irish constitution that permits an abortion only in cases where the woman’s life is at risk.
- An estimated 5,000 Irish women a year have an abortion, either by taking illegal abortion pills without medical supervision, or by traveling to the UK.
- The current abortion laws do not allow abortions in instances of rape, incest, or in the case of fetal fatality.
The 8th amendment became part of the Irish Constitution in 1983. It recognises the right to life of “the unborn” and says the state will “defend and vindicate” that right with due regard to the equal right to life of “the mother.” As a result, abortion is legal in Ireland only if the woman’s life is at real and substantial risk; only if she will die without it.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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SEE ALSO: Support for repealing Irish abortion laws rises days from vote
