We Won't Be DUPed: demanding reproductive rights for NI

Join us to send a clear message to the DUP, Westminster, and the world that we oppose the sustained denial of basic reproductive rights in Northern Ireland. We demand Northern Irish politicians #trustwomen as we stand in solidarity with AFAB in Northern Ireland and our friends at Alliance For Choice.

Exempt from the 1967 Abortion Act which covers the rest of the UK, Northern Ireland continue to criminalise abortion under legislation from 1861. It is illegal to access abortion, even in the circumstances of rape, incest or if the foetus is so severely disabled as to be unable to survive outside the womb.

The DUP have continuously obstructed the progress of basic human rights. In November 2015, Belfast High Court found that Northern Ireland’s abortion laws are a breach of international human rights legislation. However, the Northern Irish parliament, which is dominated by Evangelical DUP politicians, voted almost unanimously to keep the ban.

Activists in Northern Ireland have been working for decades to get this issue on the agenda and implement change. The eyes of the rest of the UK have now turned to Northern Ireland because of the Conservative deal with the DUP.

In 2016, 724 safe and legal abortions were provided in England for persons with a Northern Irish address and 3,265 abortions to those with a Republic of Ireland address. These numbers do not account for the thousands of women who are accessing abortion medication online.

This week the English Supreme Court upheld a ruling that NHS England and Wales does not have to give free abortions to Northern Irish people, despite being UK taxpayers. In fact, they pay more than their European counterparts as for them abortion is classed as a ‘non emergency procedure’ making it a financial privilege.

It is time for us to come together as allies to demand:
1.Free, safe and legal access to abortion for women in Northern Ireland
2.Free abortions for Northern Irish women on the NHS in England until given full access in Northern Ireland
3.Full decriminalisation of abortion across the UK

Speakers at the event include:
Mara Clarke, Abortion Support Network
Speaking of Imelda
Anne Rossiter, Irish Women’s Abortion Support Group (IWASG)
Kerry Abel, Abortion Rights
Sophie Walker, The Women's Equality Party
Fourth Wave: London Feminist Activists

ORGANISERS
Speaking of Imelda, London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign, Stop Trump, Fourth Wave: London Feminist Activists

ALLIES
Alliance for Choice,
Abortion Support Network,
Feminist Fightback,
The Women's Equality Party,
SisterSupporter,
London Irish LGBT Network
Polish feminists
Federa
Women's March on London
Festival of choice

Alliance for Choice’s awesome t-shirts and badges will be available for purchase on the day.

We stand proudly with LGBT+ allies from Northern Ireland who will be joining us. The DUP have consistently stalled same-sex marriage, tried to retain a lifetime ban on gay men giving blood, and opposed same-sex couples adopting children.

The safety and wellbeing of our attendees is paramount. For survivors: this event has no affiliation to the Socialist Workers Party and they are not invited to attend.