As the United States pushes towards cracking down on reproductive rights, Ireland, of all places, is beginning to embrace them. On Friday, 68% of the very Catholic country voted to repeal the eighth amendment abortion ban from Ireland's constitution. It is now expected to be repealed later this year.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, who had campaigned to repeal the 8th, said:
“The people have said that we want a modern constitution for a modern country, that we trust women and we respect them to make the right decision and the right choices about their health care.”
What happened yesterday is nothing short of amazing. Just try to look at this picture of women who had been living abroad coming home to Ireland to vote for their reproductive rights and TRY NOT TO UGLY CRY.
In case you were not ugly crying over that picture, here are some more that will get you. Seriously, I can't be the only one here with puffy eyes.
And this picture of a memorial to Savita Halappanavar, whose 2012 death from septic miscarriage after she was denied an abortion became a rallying point for the pro-choice movement in Ireland.
The new law will allow abortions up to 12 weeks, with some exceptions made after that point. It's not ideal, but damn, it is better than nothing. And with the 8th finally repealed, they can now work to push for even better reforms.
[AP]
