Abortion Papers Symposium at NWCI this Saturday

The National Women's Council offices in Dublin's Parnell Square will play host to a symposium on The Abortion Papers this Saturday, June 8.

The Abortion Papers was a 1992 collection of essays edited by Alibhe Smyth that was published following the X case decision by the Irish Supreme Court, legalisng abortion in Ireland in limited circumstances.

Despite widespread support for X case legislation the judgment was never given legal effect and two decades abortion remains, in effect, illegal. While the majority of people support more liberal abortion laws the issue continues to be intensely debated and Ireland still has the most restrictive abortion regimes in the world, which resulted in the death of Savita Halappanavar last year after she was repeatedly refused a life-saving abortion.

It is now proposed to publish The Abortion Papers Ireland 2013 as an accompanying volume to the original publication. The collection will contain a series of essays by Irish feminist scholars and activists exploring the struggle for abortion rights in Ireland between the X case and the death of Savita Halapannavar.

To begin the project a wide range of academics and activists will gather for a Symposium to discuss the social, ethical and political and activist dimensions of the abortion debate and its implications for women’s freedom and life choices.

Catherine Conlon, Sinéad Kennedy and Aideen Quilty will convene the Symposium. Contributors to discussion will include Anthea McTiernan, Pauline Conroy, Evelyn Mahon Sandra McAvoy, Orla O’Connor, Peadar O’Grady, Goretti Horgan, Ann Rossiter, Alison Spillane, Stepahanie Lord, Ursula Barry and Alibhe Smyth.

It runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm this Saturday.

To book your place please email [email protected]

For more details go to [link]www.facebook.com/AbortionPapers2013[/link]