Workers Solidarity Movement

A successful and productive meeting of pro-choice campaigners took place in Dublin city centre Saturday, 8th December 2012. Over 200 people came together in the Gresham Hotel to start building a new campaign for abortion rights in Ireland.

Working groups were created for topics such as lobbying, media and fundraising. The structure and aims of the campaign were also discussed.
“It is clear that there is a strong need for a co-ordinated and active national pro-choice campaign. I'm not surprised to see so many people here this afternoon. A recent survey showed that 85% of people want new abortion legislation. We've already waited too long.” said Aoife Dermody, one of the meeting organisers.

Aoife went on to add “In the room today, it was clear we have the knowledge and experience, and more importantly the compassion and energy we need. We are prepared to take action to make this change a reality.”

Anyone wishing to get involved can email irishchoicenetwork@gmail.com

WORDS: Press Release Photo Andrew Flood.

What was said

We were also tweeting an retweeting from the meeting via @WSMIreland below is a selection from these tweets which captures some of the key points raised is below - they were originally posted by a muber of pro-choice activists

• Hash tag for the national #prochoice meeting starting now is #prochoice_ie
• "Today's meeting is the first step in a national campaign to achieve legislation for abortion in Ireland" - Ailbhe Smyth
• Ballroom is full hearing about the history of abortion in Ireland.
• "Abortion needs to be taken out of the law, & be treated like any other medical procedure," Peadar O'Grady, Doctors for Choice 
• Support for x case legislation drops by 45% when it comes to full abortion. Need to bring those with us
• In NI last yr 40 women had abortions because life in danger. Means ~130 ROI women were denied this
• If we don't have autonomy we don't have basic human rights. Interfering with our bodies against our will is torture.
• Sandr McEvoy: Can't talk about life without talking about health, or health without talking about mental health 
• Great to see that #prochoice_ie now trending on twitter - one measure of determination to finally overturn Ireland's anti-women laws
• ClareDalyTD saying we need to #repealthe8th to protect women's health and choices.
• RBoydBarrett Govt can procrastinate endlessly about details, wording. Conditioning people to make it complicated
• All TDs here emphasizing that gov't is conditioning people to accept delay in leg on X
• Where abortion is legal, still forces to make it v difficult to obtain. Must be available regardless of citizenship/class
• 1861 act which criminalizes women who have abortions, is the same act that put Oscar Wilde in prison for being gay
• If you could not make the meeting and you want updates or to get involved email Irishchoicenetwork@gmail.com