Wednesday 08 March 2017 19:02 CET
Last modified on Wednesday 08 March 2017
21:15 CET
Thousands of women rallied in Dublin and other
Irish cities on Wednesday to demand the repeal
the controversial eighth amendment of Ireland's
constitution, which prohibits abortion unless a
woman's life is in danger.
Many protesters in a Strike4Repeal rally carried
signs with messages such as "Our bodies, our
lives," while a March4Repeal event was planned
in the evening.
"Twelve women a day travel to access abortion,
many more cannot afford to do so. Ireland can
no longer criminalize healthcare and put
countless lives at risk," said a sign held by one
marcher.
"We are calling on the Irish government to name
the date for a referendum to repeal the eighth
amendment," said the main organizer of the two
rallies, the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth
Amendment.
In another event marking International Women's
Day, an international congress on women's
mental health issued a "Dublin Declaration"
urging governments to guarantee accessible
abortion services for women.