The abortion issue in the Republic of Ireland—never far from the public consciousness—is bubbling up again. New figures show that a record number of women from the republic had abortions in Britain in the first three months of this year—1520 compared with 1458 last year, an increase of 4%In total, 5892 women who had abortions in Britain last year gave their address as being in the republic, compared with the 1997 figure of 5336.
In addition, about 2000 women from Northern Ireland also travel to Britain each year because the United Kingdom’s 1967 Abortion Act does not apply in the province. Only about 90 legal abortions are carried out there each year.
The latest increase in the republic reinforces a consistent upward trend of the past 25 years: in that time, the number of reported abortions in Irish women has quadrupled, while the total number being carried out in UK women is falling.
Most women travelling from the republic for abortions are working women in their 20s. Catherine Conlon, the Dublin sociologist who was one of the authors of Women and Crisis Pregnancy, a report published by the Department of Health last year, said that various factors contributed to their decision to seek abortion, including the demands of work and the persisting stigma of single motherhood.
Demand for the emergency contraceptive pill is rocketing in the republic, mainly among the young. Allison Begas, chief executive of the Well Woman Centre, which operates three services in Dublin, noted that demand for emergency contraception has risen by between 50%and 70
There had been, she suggested, a change in social attitudes: “The rise in the demand for [the emergency contraceptive pill] shows teenagers are becoming complacent about sex. A higher percentage of girls are having unprotected sex and not only risk pregnancy but also face a growing threat from sexually transmitted diseases.”
The Irish government says that its green paper on abortion, in preparation since 1995, is due out this month. The Independent MPs who have been propping up the government have made it clear that they expect another referendum within six months of the conclusion of any green paper debate.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s main pregnancy counselling service, the Ulster Pregnancy Advisory Association, is closing its doors after staff harassment and attempts to burn its offices down.
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STICHTING SOA-BESTRIJDING
The Foundation for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, in the Netherlands, last week launched its 11th annual safer sex campaign with television commercials and posters aimed at promoting condom use. The words on the poster above say: “Genital warts are available everywhere. So indeed are condoms.” Research by Utrecht University shows that among the target group of 15-35 year olds with multiple partners, 40%did not carry a condom and one in four of these had had unprotected sex in the past six months. The Netherlands, with a population of nearly 16 million, has about 100000 new cases a year of sexually transmitted diseases.