Support mothers to be a mother by choice

SIR, Last week partnered some intense days for women historically and culturally, with the celebration of International Women’s Day to honour the achievements of women throughout history closely followed this year by Mother’s Day - a day to honour the women in our lives that mothered us into being.

This year in particular International Women’s Day was important as we saw thousands of women and families marching together for women’s rights today. Repealing the Eighth Amendment will go down as a historical moment for women’s reproductive choice, and the right to autonomy while pregnant.

Sandwiched in between these two days where we celebrate and honour women, we have the foreign-invested and church-funded March for Life – a pro-life gathering to celebrate what exactly? That women are forced to give birth to babies they are unable to raise? That children as young as 12 should carry a pregnancy to term? That women already violated by rape should remain forever tied to their abuser by birthing their offspring? In the name of celebrating life - what kind of life are we condemning these women and children to?

Let us celebrate life, where we are free to make the choices that are best for us. Let us celebrate life, by ensuring that children that are brought into the world are wanted and have their needs met.

Let us celebrate life by honouring the women that sustain our very existence, and that they should have complete control and dignity over their own healthcare.

Let’s aim to support every mother to be a mother by choice.

Sincerely, Erin Darcy, Loughrea.