UMSU Womens’ Officer Jennie Killip today helped to lead a small protest in Piccadilly Gardens as part of a Riveters and Feminist Fightback campaign to get abortion rights for women in Northern Ireland. Some protesters tied themselves to railings, a reference to the suffragette protests that took place in Britain 100 years ago, whilst others held up signs with slogans such as “Defend Our Rights”, and “Abortion Rights for Northern Ireland”.
Abortion is currently largely illegal in Northern Ireland (except where the mother’s life is in danger) as The Abortion Art 1967 applies only to England, Scotland and Wales. Each year between seventy and eighty abortions are carried out legally in Northern Ireland (comparatively low when compared with the rest of the UK) and as many as 2000 Northern Irish women pay up to £900 to travel and have an abortion in England and Wales (source).
When asked about abortion in Northern Ireland Jennie Killip said:
A woman’s right to choose is central to the emancipation of women. In order for us to have control over our lives, we must have control over our bodies. This means free and easy access to abortion, to childcare and impartial advice about our options. The fact this doesn’t exist in Northern Ireland and that women in Northern Ireland are being ignored is something we must tackle now.
For more information on Feminist Fightback check out www.feministfightback.org.uk. Jennie Killip can also be contacted through the UMSU website.
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