Abortion should be made legal in Northern Ireland

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Persuasive Speech

Abortion should be made legal in Northern Ireland

Abortion. A subject that here in Northern Ireland we rarely talk about for the simple fact that it is not legal. But in my opinion women and girls in Northern Ireland should have the right to abortion. If that the rest of the U.K can have the choice then why doesn’t Northern Ireland? For the rest of the U.K in 1967 the abortion act was passed which gave females the right to an abortion if agreed by two doctors before 24 weeks. So if the rest of Great Britain has the right to, why don’t we?

Do you think that it is right that, at the start of the 21st century, women in Northern Ireland still do not have the right to control their own bodies? Yet the last twenty years have seen great change in women’s lives and attitudes to sexuality in Northern Ireland. Abortion is no longer a taboo subject. Radio talk shows have women phoning them, giving their names and openly talking about their experience of abortion.

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Much of this openness started only with the X case. In February 1992, there was a 14-year-old girl, pregnant as a result of rape, who was stopped from having an abortion. The newspapers leaked news of this “confinement” of a 14-year old rape victim. Up and down the country there was an explosion if anger and thousands of young women and men poured into the streets to say, “Let her go”. Day after day, night after night, thousands of women and men took to the streets. The plight of MS. X made many people rethink their position on abortion. They started to wonder what they would think if they or their 14 year old d daughter were in that situation. And they realised that they did not think the life of a foetus, just more than a fertilised egg, could be compared to that of an adult woman. Could you imagine having a baby at our age?

Each year about 10,000 Irish women travel to England to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Statistics collected by the English Department of Health show over 7,000 women from the south and about 3,000 from the North of Ireland travel each year- that’s over 150 women every week. These women come from every age group from 12 to 55; they come from every walk to life- they are workers in factories, hospitals and offices; they are housewives, students and unemployed. Almost half already have at least one child; some have grown up families and don’t want to start all over again; some fell they are too old, or ruining their jobs, of being unable to finish their education, or of not being able to cope with other children. Some cannot afford or simply do not want another child. If someone has a heart or kidney that doesn’t work, he or she can get a transplant. If our eyesight is poor, we wear glasses. If we have diabetes, we take insulin. These are all ways of controlling our bodies’ biology. So why if we feel we cannot cope with a baby should we have to go through with it?

Anti-Abortionists say that is abortion were legalised, women would use it as an alternative form of contraception. That is nonsense. Women have more sense. They no it is far easier, physically and emotionally, not to become pregnant than it is to terminate a pregnancy. Abortion is not easy and is a very difficult decision to make. Right from conception the bond between mother and babe is unique. If a female is pregnant and wants the baby then this bond is special and exciting. However, for mothers who don’t want the child then this is a different story. To go ahead and continue with the birth may lead to Post Natal Depression. The mother no longer wants the baby and this may lead to neglect, violence and malnutrition. I’m sure some of you have seen the advert on TV for the NSPCC with the young baby of about 2years old is left lying in his cot? Unwanted pregnancies can lead to neglect of this sort. Do we really want to have to read about stories like this in a newspaper?Support for abortion rights has grown, particularly among those aged 25-34. Back in 1983, 48% of this group said “yes” they agree with abortion if a woman does not want a child. By 1998, this had risen to 62%. I think that every woman should have the right to choose whether or not she wants an abortion.

If a woman finds herself pregnant, and does not want to be, what is the best (or least worst) solution for her, the potential newborn that she is carrying, and all the other people involved- including boyfriend or husband and their families. Firstly. She can take no action, have to baby and raise it herself (hopefully with the support of others). Secondly, she can take no action, give birth and give the baby up for adoption. Finally, she can have an abortion and terminate the pregnancy. For some, the fires two options may not be possible and probably not convenient. So why cant females in Northern Ireland have the chance to choose what way their own lives go?

So, put yourself in some of these women’s shoes and see how unfair it is on us in Northern Ireland? Why should a troubled, pregnant female have to travel to mainland UK when English don’t? How would you feel if it happened to you?

Thank you for listening.