The call to abolish the eight amendment is growing stronger every day, and now hundreds of Ireland's most illustrious artists have added their voice to the cause.
Sinéad O’Connor, Christy Moore, Colm Tóibín, Anne Enright, Cillian Murphy and Neil Jordan are just a small handful of the initial 240+ names that have joined the campaign to make abortion reform a central issue in the next general election.
The leading lights of Irish culture and arts released a statement yesterday, saying:
“The eighth amendment of the constitution of Ireland, article 40.3.3 inserted in 1983, has prevented our doctors and our legislators from providing proper care to women in Ireland. The resulting physical and emotional trauma inflicted on women is inexcusable and an ongoing shame for Irish citizens.
“The eighth amendment undermines the status of the Irish constitution. It is a key source of Ireland’s failure to reach international human rights standards and of the state’s failure to meet its obligations to vindicate women’s human rights.
“We, the undersigned artists, call for the repeal of the eighth amendment to the Irish constitution and for action by our elected legislators to provide women in Ireland with modern reproductive health services in line with best medical practice and international human rights norms.”
If you're an artist working in architecture, dance, film and television, literature, music, theatre and visual artists, you can sign the statement by going to [link]artistsrepealthe8th.com[/link]

8th Amendment impacts on a woman’s right to bodily integrity #artistsrepeal8

— artistsrepeal8 (@artistsrepeal8) September 15, 2015

This is organised by artists for artists. We believe that other sectors of Irish society will also call for the repeal of this amendment.

— artistsrepeal8 (@artistsrepeal8) September 15, 2015

8th Amendment no longer reflects the opinions of Irish citizens #artistsrepeal8

— artistsrepeal8 (@artistsrepeal8) September 15, 2015