Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/885/22078
From The Socialist newspaper, 20 January 2016
Northern Ireland: Defy anti-abortion laws
Socialist Party reporters
Campaign group Fight4Equality has described the prosecution of a young women for accessing abortion pills as "ludicrous" and said that a movement must be built to "render anti-choice laws unenforceable and put the political establishment under huge pressure," pointing to the abortion pill train action which openly defied the law.
Campaign spokesperson Courtney Robinson said:
"A matter of weeks ago, Belfast High Court recognised that Northern Ireland's archaic abortion laws contravene women's basic human rights.
"It is ludicrous that there are now two women being dragged through the same court system for accessing what are regarded by the World Health Organisation as essential medicines in order to carry out medical terminations. We demand Justice Minister David Ford take immediate action to end the criminalisation of these women.
"We shouldn't hold our breath for meaningful change coming from Stormont if the politicians are left to their own devices. All the main parties are opposed to the right to choose.
"However, the experience in the South shows that a mass movement can render anti-choice laws unenforceable and put the political establishment under huge pressure.
"Our sister organisation in the South, ROSA, organised the abortion pill train which saw these same drugs openly transported from Belfast to Dublin and taken by women in public in defiance of the law.
"At no point did the state seek to intervene as they feared the reaction it would provoke. That is the kind of bold campaigning approach which we require."
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 20 January 2016:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Unite the fightback: Coordinated strikes needed
United workers' action can save NHS
Water firms' £1.2bn in profit off human need
Political policing: Met spy targeted socialists
Trident debate: socialist programme needed
Housing crisis reaches level of 1960s
Civil service: £1bn on consultants
Outrageous attacks on Corbyn for 'sexism'
Socialist history
1986 Wapping strike - Defeat of the print unions
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
People's Budget meeting success
Carmarthenshire Unison campaigns against council cuts
Unite the Union local government committee votes for no-cuts budgets
Preparing a no-cuts people's budget
Momentum and democracy in Hackney and beyond
Angry Labour meeting puts councillors under fire
Gateshead carers oppose respite centre closures
Celebrating Eleanor Marx's birthday
Socialist Party workplace news
Nationalise Tata to save steel jobs!
Tube workers to strike again to defend jobs and conditions
Reinstatement victory for John Vasey
Shop workers lobby council against Sunday opening
International socialist news and analysis
USA: Fight the billionaire class!
China: Financial turmoil spreads fear across global markets
Northern Ireland: Defy anti-abortion laws
Socialist Party comments and reviews
Home | The Socialist 20 January 2016 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2020