Members from the London–based Irish feminist group, Speaking of I.M.E.L.D.A. (Speaking of Ireland Making England the Legal Destination for Abortion), in partnership with local pro–choice activists coordinated an action in which women chained themselves to pillars outside the G.P.O. in Dublin, during RTE’s ‘Road to the Rising’ event. Quickly chaining themselves with padlocks to the pillars, the women attracted large crowds and many supporters outside G.P.O. In the presence of An Garda Síochána, the women remained chained to the pillars for two hours on Easter Monday afternoon.
In a press release the group explained its actions by “chaining their bodies to this nationally significant premises, the women aimed to physically enact the findings from the United Nations Human Rights Committee in 2014 that Irish law treats women as mere ‘vessels’ when they are pregnant. 99 years after the proclamation of Irish freedom was read from the steps of the G.P.O., the activists highlighted that women in Ireland still don’t have freedom in terms of basic bodily autonomy. So, the activists urgently proclaimed the right of all women in Ireland to access safe, legal and local abortion.”
During their action, the women read the following pro–choice proclamation from the steps of the G.P.O.:
Irish Men and Irish Women, and all those who live in Ireland, in the name of the freedom promised to us on these steps ninety nine years ago, we call on the government of Ireland to fulfil its international obligation, as highlighted by the UN Human Rights Committee, to provide access to safe, legal abortion in Ireland. Just like those who stood on these steps 99 years ago, we declare the right of all people in Ireland to ownership of their own bodies and to control their own destinies. We applaud and stand in solidarity with the vibrant pro–choice movement all around the country. Ireland is rising to tell its politicians that the time to repeal the 8th Amendment is now!
About SPEAKING OF I.M.E.L.D.A.
Speaking of I.M.E.L.D.A. is a direct–action feminist performance group that seeks to challenge the ongoing situation of Ireland Making England the Legal Destination for Abortion. They operate against the shaming and silencing of women living in the north and south of Ireland who have had abortions in England.
The name Imelda was used as a code–name by women travelling to England for abortions between 1986 and 1995. This was necessary since the Information Cases in the Republic of Ireland in 1986 made it a criminal offence to travel abroad for an abortion and to provide information and referrals for abortion services. However, during these 9 years, approximately 6,000 women from Ireland, north and south, still travelled to England for an abortion. The Imelda code name enabled these women to keep their plans secret to avoid legal action being taken against them.
In 1995, giving information about abortion abroad and travelling for an abortion again became legal activities. However, since then an average of 12 women a day have continued to travel from Ireland, north and south, to England for abortions. Apart from the considerable expense and stress of having to travel abroad for a medical procedure, these women are often denied follow–up after–care. In addition, in 2013, the Republic of Ireland implemented a 14–year prison sentence for women who have abortions in Ireland illegally. This has dire consequences for women who take pro–abortive medication because they cannot afford to travel or are not permitted to leave the country such as in the recent cases of Miss Y and Savita Halappanaveer.