After gay marriage vote, Ireland's ready to move on abortion, Amnesty says
| DUBLIN
The聽Irish government聽should heed the shifting of opinion demonstrated by the people's backing of gay marriage, by easing restrictions on abortion, the head of聽Amnesty聽International said on Tuesday.
Ireland聽voted to allow gay marriage last month in a referendum that signaled a major change in attitudes in what was once a strongly Catholic and socially conservative society.
But its abortion laws remain among the most restrictive in the world and a complete ban was only lifted in 2013 when terminations were allowed if the mother's life is in danger.
"As an outsider, what it signifies is that the country is ready to deal with difficult issues,"聽Amnesty聽Secretary General聽Salil Shetty聽told Reuters, referring to the same-sex marriage referendum which was backed by a landslide.
"The timing is right. On some of the taboo issues which聽Ireland聽historically has been more conservative on, public opinion is really shifting and it's important for the leaders to do the right thing."
Human rights group聽Amnesty聽says聽Ireland's constitution and abortion laws violate the fundamental human rights of women and girls, including their right to life, health, equality, privacy, and freedom from torture.
The system treats women as "child-bearing vessels," rather than individuals, the聽London-based group said in a report on聽Ireland's abortion law.
The death in 2012 of a woman after doctors refused to abort her dying fetus forced the government to change the law, provoking protest from both sides. Prime Minister聽Enda Kenny聽was sent letters written in blood for bringing in the legislation.
Amnesty聽said the new laws were unclear and the threat of prosecution for doctors still forces pregnant women to wait until their condition deteriorates to justify a medical intervention, with potentially devastating consequences.
"Ireland聽is the only country in the developed world which has these kind of laws," Shetty said. "These laws and practices are obsolete and outdated. The human cost is far too high, it leads to huge suffering."
The聽UN Human Rights Committee聽last year said聽Ireland聽should revise its abortion laws to provide for additional exceptions in cases of rape, incest, serious risks to the health of the mother, or fatal fetal abnormality.
The government has said it would need to hold a referendum to further amend the law and has ruled out holding one before elections early next year.
