The Independent (Ireland), May 01, 2008
European Human Rights chief hits out at lack of abortion laws in Ireland
By Dearbhail McDonald
EUROPE'S leading human rights chief criticised the Government over its failure to introduce new abortion laws and a legal definition of the unborn.
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the failure to introduce abortion laws in the wake of the 1983 abortion referendum and 1992 "X case" was leading to "serious consequences" for vulnerable women, including underage girls and migrants.
Yesterday, Mr Hammarberg warned that Ireland could face proceedings in the European Court of Human Rights after it recently ruled that the country was in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights owing to its defective domestic abortion laws.
Last month political pressure increased to decriminalise abortion after Europe's human rights watchdog passed a resolution calling for it to be legalised.
Despite international pressure, Mr Hammarberg was told by the Government during a visit to Ireland last November that there were no plans to legislate for abortion on the grounds of the "X case".
Standards
"I urge the Irish authorities to ensure that legislation is enacted to resolve this problem and that adequate medical services are provided to carry out legal abortions in line with the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court," said Mr Hammarberg in a 58-page report on Ireland's human rights standards.
The report welcomed plans for a children's rights referendum, but called on the Government to ban corporal punishment, including within the family and by parents, and said the State should discontinue the imprisonment of children.
Addressing counter-terrorism issues and the ongoing controversy at Shannon airport, the commissioner called for effective measures to prevent renditions through Irish territory and airspace, and asked the Government to "ensure independent investigations into any serious allegation of extraordinary renditions".
Mr Hammarberg said that the "mere suspicion" that Ireland could have aided or abetted renditions "seriously undermines the credibility and authority" of the Government.
But he praised the Government's decision to establish the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission to investigate complaints against police and said the model will be presented to other European governments later this month.