Choice Ireland

Women challenge abortion law in European court
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/women-challenge-aborti...
Irish Examiner
Monday, December 07, 2009 - 07:54 AM

Ireland’s abortion laws are being challenged in a landmark European court hearing which could overturn the Republic’s sovereign right to protect unconditionally “the life of the unborn”.

Three women living in Ireland claim the country's abortion ban violates the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Ireland is a signatory.

State defends ban on abortion as women take case to Europe
IRISH INDEPENDENT
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/courts/state-defends-ban-on-abor...

By Dearbhail McDonald
Legal Editor
Monday December 07 2009

THE Government is to defend Ireland's controversial abortion ban in a landmark case this week in the European Court of Human Rights.

And if Ireland is found to be in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights it may lead to the introduction of abortion here in limited circumstances.

On 18 September 2009 Pat Kenny on RTE had a 40-odd minute show that included an account by reporter Della Kilroy of her undercover visit to Ask Majella crisis pregnancy agency, and a discussion of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies. If you missed the show, you can listen to it here:

http://www.methings.com/podshows/5296120

or if you have trouble, try here:

http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2009/pc/pod-v-180909-41m41s-todaywithpatkenny...

If that doesn't work, the Pat Kenny show is also available on iTunes.

As we keep trying to get hold of video of Choice Ireland's appearance before the Oireachtas Committee on 3 Dec., there's a nice account of the event over on the USI equality blog:

http://usiequality.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/a-day-out-in-the-dail/

Here's a taste:
"I was very impressed by the professionalism of Choice Ireland (CI) throughout the presentation. The spokesperson for CI on the day was Sinead Ahern who conveyed clearly and concisely the actions of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies, the effect that these agencies have on women and how the state can regulate/monitor this area."

'Rogue' pregnancy agencies criticised
KITTY HOLLAND
The Irish Times - Wednesday, December 2, 2009
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1202/1224259894519.html

IT WAS questionable whether some State-funded crisis pregnancy agencies should receive money from the Government, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.
Senator Ronan Mullen was speaking at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children as it discussed a presentation from a pro-choice group, Choice Ireland, calling for the regulations to outlaw so-called “rogue” pregnancy agencies.

Choice Ireland Press Statement Issued 30 November 2009

CHOICE IRELAND TO URGE ACTION ON ROGUE CRISIS PREGNANCY CLINICS BEFORE OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE

Choice Ireland will call on the government to regulate the activities of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies in a presentation before the Oireachtas Joint committee on Health and Children tomorrow. [1 December, 2009]

Rogue Crisis pregnancy agencies use lies, manipulation and often bullying tactics to influence the decisions of women experiencing crisis pregnancy.

From Times Online
November 26, 2009
Berlusconi Government blocks Vatican-opposed RU486 abortion pill
Richard Owen in Rome
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6933482.ece

The centre-right government of Silvio Berlusconi has blocked availability in Italy of the RU486 abortion pill, which is vehemently opposed by the Vatican and the Catholic Church.

Crisis Pregnancy Center Report Reveals Accidental Truths

By Wendy Norris, RH Reality Check
October 1, 2009 - 7:00am
www.rhrealitycheck.org

The Family Research Council's report Wednesday commemorating 40 years of crisis pregnancy centers inadvertently confirms a dirty little secret of public health: $200 million per year is being spent on reproductive health care provided by amateurs.

In Australia on Friday, in a case that has ignited a fierce debate about abortion rights, a magistrate in the Queensland city of Cairns ordered a 19-year-old woman and her 21-year-old boyfriend to stand trial on charges of procuring an abortion and supplying drugs to do so. See story from The Australian newspaper below or visit
http://www.prochoiceqld.org.au/ for more info

September 11, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press

A QUEENSLAND woman charged with organising her own home abortion has been committed to stand trial.