Alliance for Choice Press Release
Embargoed until Referendum Result is Announced Saturday 26th May 2018
Alliance for Choice are thrilled to hear that the people of Ireland have voted YES!
This historic result has shown that Ireland wants change and no longer sees the constitution as the right place to control women's healthcare. Ireland has said it believes its women and pregnant people should be cared for by Ireland in Ireland and with dignity.

Emma Campbell Co-Chair said, “Every person deserves to be treated as an equal citizen regardless of whether they are pregnant or not. This change has come about, not because of the benevolence of politicians, or the acquiescence of law-makers, or even the will of healthcare professionals; this change has come about because of the tens of hundreds of abortion seekers who continue to sacrifice their own privacy in order for Irish people to finally understand their stories”

Kellie O’Dowd, Co-Chair said, “We are frankly, delighted that people are now willing to put themselves in the shoes of the women who have travelled, who have been forced to break the law by accessing abortion pills online or who have been forced to rely on the kindness of strangers, such the Abortion Support Network when they receive a tragic diagnosis for their pregnancy.”

Danielle Roberts, campaigner ended “We are proud to have played a small part in solidarity campaigning with our friends in Ireland, and we will continue with that solidarity until it is no longer needed. We also gratefully acknowledge the offers we have already had, in solidarity from the South, to work towards the change that is still so urgently needed in Northern Ireland.”

We would like to offer our thanks most of all to every woman & abortion seeker, every person who walked pavements, every cake-baker, merchandise maker, everyone abroad who phoned their parents, everyone who had conversations with colleagues and team members, everyone who used whatever skills they had and whatever truth they held to change the hearts of Ireland.

Let’s keep this momentum for change from the bottom up happening.

We are fighting fit and ready.

#AbortionRightsNai
#TrustWomen

Donate here: https://localgiving.org/donation/alliance4choice

NOTES

Impact for Northern Irish women.
Women and pregnant people in Northern Ireland will still have to travel for access but here are a few bullet points on possible impacts:
Possible less expensive travel/accommodation to Ireland - still not ideal but closer plus tricky with proposed 72 hour waiting period
Influence of public feeling - NI polls have shown the population here support a change to the same extent as people in the 26 counties
Shows up even more starkly the need to provide for NI abortion seekers urgently
Sinn Fein position likely to become 12 weeks. Big change as second largest party in NI.
Any 32 county party has to be come into line with these changes, SDLP has already moved to conscience
However, ultimately we need to laws to go and for Westminster to do it's job and support the people, not the politicians of Northern Ireland in enacting access to abortion healthcare NOW. Thanks to champions such as Stella Creasy and Rupa Huq, this can happen.