I hope you guys at the age of 18+ living in Ireland won't waste your votes in May/June when the time comes. I implore you to use your power to repeal the 8th, this is so important to so many women.
The 8th amendment in the Irish Constitution states as follows:
"The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right."
Abortion laws in Ireland are restrictive and many women have to travel outside the country to get the access to abortions they need for whatever reason. The cases that are more applicable for abortion is if the mother's life is at risk if they continue with the pregnancy, or, if the mother is underage. However, there are more cases than these that need access to this, such as if the child won't survive the pregnancy or even for the simple fact that contraception has failed and they are simply not ready for such a big responsibility- financially, emotionally or physically. I, as a growing young woman, born and raised in Ireland am counting on you to use this opportunity. I want to grow up and know that my country will support my right to my own body and give me that right when I need it. I understand that Ireland for so long has been seen as a very 'catholic country' but look at the amazing changes we made regarding the LGBTQ community and the leap of change that was made. This is so important and it would be great to get the word around. It's terryifying for me to know that if this doesn't go the way I hope, I'll be forced to carry a child I may not want or be able to care for.
I implore you to repeal the 8th.
