Government’s Response to Human Rights Abortion Case Under Scrutiny

The Irish Government’s response to the landmark A, B & C v Ireland judgment at the European Court of Human Rights is being examined at a high-level meeting of members of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers taking place in Strasbourg this week (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Last December, the European Court of Human Rights unanimously found that Ireland’s abortion law violates women’s human rights and that abortion, when a woman’s life is at risk, should be lawfully available in Ireland.

The Government’s response to the court’s judgment to set up yet another expert group shows a clear lack of leadership, according to the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA).

IFPA Chief Executive Niall Behan said: “The IFPA views the Irish Government’s response to the judgment as wholly inadequate. The State has ignored the central concerns of the Court. The establishment of an Expert Group is unnecessary and represents a considered avoidance by the State of its duty to execute the judgment. The Court has already criticised the State for failing to act on recommendations of the three previous government committees that have already considered Ireland’s regulation of abortion.

“Every day the Irish State fails to reform its restrictive abortion laws, it is violating the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights and showing a complete disregard for Irish women’s constitutional rights. The IFPA hopes that the Committee of Ministers will reject the State’s action plan and request a revised action plan with a concrete commitment to enact legislation to implement the ruling of the Court and give legal clarity to women and their doctors on the circumstances in which abortion is lawfully available within the state.”

Source: http://ifpa.ie