Irish people are using the hashtag #ChoiceForXmas to spread awareness of the 11 women a day who leave for an abortion.
Coming up to Christmas, while it’s easy to lose all sense of self in the glitz and glamour of the festive season, it’s still important to keep perspective and remember what’s important.
Namely, campaigning for a repeal of the 8th amendment, a law which hinders women’s rights to bodily autonomy and continues to force 11 a women a day to leave the country for England to have a safe and legal abortion.
The London branch of the Abortion Rights Campaign have launched #ChoiceforXmas, a campaign to get Irish diaspora checking in for choice on their journeys home this Christmas.
This week @LdnIrishARC launched #Choice4Xmas, to get people travelling home to Ireland to Check In For Choice. pic.twitter.com/kUid5rBreR
— Abortion Rights IE (@freesafelegal) December 18, 2016
People have taken to Twitter to share sympathy for the women who are forced out of their own country to access abortion services abroad.
Pembroke to Rosslare. Thinking of the 11 Irish women a day who travel to England to access safe abortion #repealthe8th #choice4xmas pic.twitter.com/PhxyvfGm4f
— Max Sullivan (@maxpsullivan) December 18, 2016
In Cherbourg.. thinking of those forced to get the boat home criminalised w beloved baby’s remains in the boot #repealthe8th #choice4xmas pic.twitter.com/bAchco3ZJ2
— Brian Leonard (@BrianLeonardFR) December 18, 2016
Happy to be home, thinking of how the 11 women a day who travel to Britain for abortion feel when they return. #choice4xmas #repealthe8th pic.twitter.com/1mdNyg3UMZ
— Cara (@Caraquest) December 18, 2016
Travelling home for xmas, a much shorter distance than irish women have to travel for their rights. #choice4xmas #repealthe8th
— Emily Reynolds (@laracroft838) December 18, 2016
Boarding the plane ✈️ in Brussels thinking if people forced to travel from Ireland for healthcare #choice4xmas #repealthe8th pic.twitter.com/jK9IYkYwgu
— Jessica M (@codenamewallaby) December 18, 2016
Getting the train to Brussels airport thinking of the women forced to travel abroad for a legal abortion. #repealthe8th #choice4xmas pic.twitter.com/e495mGECrs
— Jessica M (@codenamewallaby) December 18, 2016