1918 – Votes for Women 

2018 – Votes for Repeal 

Let’s make history!

In 1918, women fighting for their right to vote shouted: “Votes for Women”.

In 2018, as we begin the campaign for the right of women living in Ireland to make decisions about their own bodies, we shout: “Votes for Repeal.”

Only with repeal of the Eighth Amendment can we begin to change our abortion laws and provide full reproductive healthcare for women and girls in Ireland.  Only with repeal of the  Eighth Amendment can we stop forcing thousands of women and girls to leave this island to access abortion care abroad and stop forcing those who cannot travel to risk criminalisation by taking abortion pills in Ireland without medical supervision.

A 100 years ago, women’s suffrage was only for those over 30 with property or means; today, it is women with neither the means nor the ability to travel, who lack another fundamental right: the right to healthcare, including abortion care.On the centenary of the struggle for the vote, we have an historic opportunity to tell our law-makers that we don’t want women buying abortion pills on the internet, taking them unsupported, afraid to seek medical aftercare because they could face 14 year prison sentence. We don’t want another death like that of Savita Halappanavar. We don’t want tens of thousands more women leaving the island for medical care they should be able to have safely in their own country.

The Eighth Amendment has to go. Our abortion laws must change.

On March 8th we will take our lead from those who won Votes for Women in 1918.

If you believe, like us, that our abortion laws must change, bring your banners, family and friends to shout out: “Votes for Repeal.”

And in 2018 use your vote, so hard won by the women who marched a century before us, to make history – again!