Senator
Higgins continued, "Although the vote does not guarnatee that marriage
equality and abortion rights will be legislated for for people in Northern
Ireland it does provide a positive and realistic path forward."
Senator Higgins had previously worked
with Stella Creasy M.P., who brought forward today's amendments, to highlight
the lack of access to abortion in Northern Ireland.
In 2018, Ms. Creasy called for an
urgent debate on abortion access in Northern Ireland following the vote to
repeal the eighth amendment. Senator Higgins, and others, co-wrote a letter
with Ms. Creasy to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Therea May
drawing their attention to the commitment to human rights equivalence under the
Good Friday Agreement and the need for reproductive rights to come within this
framework.
As a member of the European
Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights Alice-Mary has been
amplfying the work of those throughout Europe who are working to expand and
protect reproductive rights.
"Since Ireland voted
overwhelminglyto chose support over silence in expanding access to abortion
services last May, we have an important role to play globally in sharing our
experience and supporting others around the world in their struggle. Today's
vote in relation to Northern Ireland again sends out an important signal to the
world that women's rights must be respected and protected and that the work of
activists for justice and equality is vitally important.
