GLEN have joined the Coalition to Repeal The 8th Amendment, citing equality and bodily integrity as reasons

GLEN have joined over seventy other organisations in the Coalition to Repeal The 8th Amendment.

Representing the LGBT community alongside organisations such as TFMR Ireland (Terminations for Medical Reasons Ireland), the Rape Crisis Network Ireland and Dublin Well Women Centre, GLEN joined the Coalition because they stand for “equality” and “bodily integrity”.

Áine Duggan, GLEN CEO, said: “GLEN has joined the Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment because equality and bodily integrity are core values and drivers of our work as a LGBTQI rights-based advocacy organisation.”

“We believe a referendum to repeal the 8th amendment is imperative to ensuring the rights, choices and well-being of all individuals living in Ireland who could become pregnant, including a majority of the LGBTQI community.

“Further, denial of abortion rights presents specific risks to LGBTQI-identified individuals, as international studies show LGBTQI-identified youth are at higher risk than their heterosexual counterparts for unintended pregnancies,” she said.

Ailbhe Smyth, Convenor of the Coalition

GLEN has joined the Coalition alongside recent members Wexford Pro-Choice and Labour Youth. Convenor of the Coalition, Ailbhe Smyth, welcomed GLEN to the largest ever grouping working for constitutional change.

“The Coalition to Repeal the 8th Amendment is now the largest ever civil society grouping in Ireland working to achieve constitutional change on this issue and I am delighted to welcome GLEN as our newest member,” Smyth said.

“It has been an exceptionally busy month for the Coalition as we made our submission to the Citizens’ Assembly; hosted a productive working visit from Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service; and held a lunchtime rally ‘Women Rising in Solidarity 2016’ in Dublin to demand that the Irish Government take action to respect and protect women’s lives, health and choices.

“It was also a significant month for all women in Ireland as the Government offered compensation and appropriate counselling to Amanda Mellet in recognition of the trauma and distress she endured along with her husband James because of Ireland’s prohibitive abortion laws.”