Ireland abortion vote campaigns ramp up
DUBLIN: Pro- and anti-abortion activists in Ireland are hitting the streets and social networks to mobilise a divided electorate with less than a fortnight to go until a referendum on the thorny issue.
Voters decide on May 25 whether to remove the 1983 constitutional restriction on abortion – a highly sensitive issue in a traditionally devoutly Catholic country.
Back in 1983, 67% voted in favour of the eighth amendment, which outlawed abortion.
The law was tweaked in 2013 to allow terminations if the mother’s life is at risk, following public outrage at the death of a pregnant woman refused an abortion.
But anyone having an abortion or helping a woman to do so still faces up to 14 years in jail.
The referendum will ask voters if they want to keep the constitutional restriction or repeal it and allow the Irish parliament to legislate on abortion.
It comes three years after a referendum in which Ireland voted by a landslide to legalise same-sex marriage – a seismic change.
Some 45% are in favour of changing the abortion law, while 34% back the status quo and 18% are undecided, according to the latest poll by Kantar Millward Brown for the Sunday Independent newspaper.
Despite its consistent poll lead, the Yes camp is taking nothing for granted.
“I think it will be very close,” said Sarah Monaghan, a spokesman for the Together for Yes campaign, the main pro-repeal umbrella group which is urging supporters to redouble their efforts.
On Saturday, thousands gathered in Dublin for the final major prolife rally ahead of the referendum.
Under the banner of “Love Both Vote No”, people crowded into the square outside parliament.
Demonstrators held up placards reading “Compassion for both” showing a mother and baby, “Voice for the voiceless”, “My heartbeat started at 22 days” and “Repeal kills. Vote No”.
Meanwhile, Doctors Together for Yes launched its public database of over 1,000 doctors backing repeal.
Coffeeshop information meetings and fundraising evenings were among the multitude of events trying to attract mostly younger people to get on the electoral register.
A Together for Yes pop-up shop in Dublin drew in many younger voter wearing “Yes” badges and T-shirts or “Repeal” sweaters.