A look at Canadian reproductive rights as Ireland votes on abortion ban

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As Ireland votes to repeal a constitutional ban on abortions, one group believes Canadians take reproductive rights for granted.

“It’s surprising,” says Michelle Fortin, executive director at Options for Sexual Health. “77 per cent of Canadians actually support reproductive rights, and yet we have this very small, vocal minority that seems to take up a lot of space as opposed to this very silent majority.”

She believes there’s a certain level of complacency when it comes to talking about and promoting reproductive rights.

“It’s been over 30 years since the Morgentaler decision, which ensured that a woman’s right to security included access to abortions.”

However, Fortin says a lot of people just assume that that right is “now ensconced”, and that access is easy for everyone. She points to the fact that it was not until 2017 that abortions were made available in Prince Edward Island as evidence that there’s still work to do.

“PEI was without a physician that felt safe enough to be able to deliver abortions in that province,” she says. “I think one of the realities is that many of us live in urban centres where we are surrounded by folks that think the same as us, and we don’t really talk about these social issues that we take for granted.”

She says those at Options for Sexual Health want the conversation to “be on people’s tongues a little more readily.”

“Especially as we’re seeing what’s happening south of the border where rights are being stripped away from women and folks of colour.”

Fortin explains access is still an issue in remote and rural communities across the country, and adds there are places where physicians need to be flown in for abortion procedures.

A number of Irish have even chosen to fly back to their country to take part in the historic vote. According to Fortin, they are fighting to bring their country into the 21st century.

“Recently, just three years ago, these same young people were flying back to support the right for same-sex marriage,” she tells NEWS 1130. “So there’s a lot of momentum.”

Thinking back to the 80s, Fortin says a similar movement took place here in Canada. “When women and allies were fighting for our rights in relationship to choice, and I think there are a lot of folks that are taking this for granted. Even in the LGBTQ community, that happens as well.”

She believes a reason for that complacency is because more people are gaining access to these rights, however, not everyone has the freedoms they deserve.

“In urban centres, we’re fine. But in rural and remote communities in this province, we still have to fly physicians in to provide access for folks.”

So what does she think Canadians should do? Fortin says it’s important to get people involved in the conversation around choice.

#hometovote

The amendment Irish voters are trying to repeal has been in place since 1983, and requires authorities to equally protect the right to life of a mother and that of a fetus, from the moment of conception.

Thousands of Irish citizens returned home to vote in the referendum. Voters, who have come from as far away as Australia, have been chronicling their journeys under the hashtags #hometovote and #RepealThe8th on social media.

Videos and photos on Twitter show many travelers being welcomed home. The movement has also seen support from others around the world.

Activists in support of liberalizing Ireland’s abortion laws were also seen gathering at Dublin’s airport, holding banners and placards of support, some reading “Thank you for making the journey so other women don’t have to.”

Major exit polls have already projected voters have repealed the ban, with local media projecting a “landslide victory for the ‘yes’ forces.”

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