UN rights committee: Ireland abortion law violates human rights News
UN rights committee: Ireland abortion law violates human rights

The UN Human Rights Committee [official website] found [text, PDF] Monday that Ireland must remedy harm done to a woman in 2010, after denying her an abortion. Siobhán Whelan had to travel to the UK to receive medical care. Whelan was diagnosed [Guardian report] with fatal fetal syndrome. The Committee ruled that the country violated the woman’s right to be free from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment after forcing her to travel to another country to undergo the procedure. Whelan’s rights to equality and privacy were ruled to be infringed.

The preservation of human rights and equal treatment of women is an international concern. Earlier this month a UN expert presented a report [JURIST report] to the UN Human Rights Council calling for governments to do more to reduce violence against women and LGBTQI individuals. That same day the Delaware legislature approved a bill [JURIST report] that guarantees access to abortion. Conversely, the day before Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed [JURIST report] a series of abortion regulations into law. In March Human Rights Watch sent a letter and a memorandum to the speaker of the Iraqi parliament with recommendations [JURIST report] for amendments to a proposed domestic violence bill. Also in March the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women urged [JURIST report] the government of Australia on Friday to include all women in the fight to stop violence against women.

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