We now have the opportunity to end this dreadful degradation of women.  It is our constitutional right and is within our grasp to amend the constitution and remove the 8th amendment which is repugnant and oppressive to our sisters and mothers and indeed to all society.

The opportunity now presents itself to strike for freedom, to remove the biased hand of the Irish Catholic Church and have a constitution that expresses true democracy as expressed in the Proclamation of 1916.

Every man, woman, and child of voting age in this State has an obligation and a duty to fight injustice, to speak up and to challenge any obstacles to freedom of one’s own bodily integrity.  For far too long we have been in the dark ages.  For far too long we have shamed women in their greatest hour of need. We have created a dreadful legacy that has resulted in a nightmare scenario for many women who have undergone abortions for whatever reasons.  They carry a great uncertainty, a dark secret, a fear that they did something dreadfully wrong or indeed unlawful.

We have condemned them through the 8th amendment of our constitution. This is wrong.  We know its wrong.  We need to stand up, with courage and change this.

Free the 8th.  Release the 8th.  Repeal the 8th. Call it what you like.  But please vote YES and end this inequality.  For our sisters, for our mothers, for our girlfriends, for our wives, for our husbands, for our sons, for a healthier better Ireland.

Click on the link to watch Interview with Portuguese artist Paula Rego

Paula Rego Interview: Abortion as subject matter in my pictures

Artist Paula Rego’s images below were created in 1998 after the Portuguese abortion law failed due to the fact that people didn’t bother to vote.  The law has since been passed in 2007.

Paula Rego – Abortion Etchings Interview

PORTUGAL

Under the current law, abortions are allowed up 12 weeks if the mother’s life or mental or physical health is at risk, up to 16 weeks in cases of rape and up to 24 weeks if the child may be born with an incurable disease or deformity. The new law, approved on 9 March 2007, allows abortions on request up to the tenth week.^[5]