Page 34 - June2018

human rights

new dawn has • name sake Savita Halappanavar’s
broken over the parents want the new anti-abortion
pre-dominated legislation to be named ‘Savita’s law’
Catholic Ireland
A er the country
aft
voted by a landslide margin to abortion legal in countries
abolish the 1983-anti-abortion so that women could lead a
law, responsible for the death life with freedom and dignity.
of Dr Savita Halappanavar. In “Governments should respect
2012, the 31-year-old Indian-or- a woman’s right to make deci-
igin dentist died after she was sions regarding her reproduc-
denied termination of foetus tive life. A woman who decides
by a hospital authority due to to have an abortion must have
the State’s strict abortion law. access to the facilities and care
The vote in Ireland last week that will enable her to termi-
marked a historic victory in the IrIsh AntI-AbortIon lAw nate her pregnancy safely.
fight for women’s reproductive Governments that prosecute
rights as 68 per cent of voters hIstorIc In mAny wAys and punish women who have
backed the end of the eighth had abortions penalize women
amendment. Anti-abortion ac- for exercising their basic
tivists, campaigners and locals Uproar over Savita Halappanavar’s death in 2012 rights. These rights are no less
give due credit of the move to has not only forced Ireland to lift abortion ban but compromised when a woman
Savita, saying that the country who decides to terminate a
owes her a “great debt”. also give women their long-pending right to make pregnancy can do so only by
Another campaign led by choices whether it is about abortion, pregnancy, undertaking a serious risk
her father Andanappa Yalagi to her life or health,” human
has now urged that the new sexual health, career or life, analyses Pari Saikia rights groups pointed out.
pro-abortion law should be There have been decades-
named as “Savita’s law”. in its laws to respect, and as far heart,” said a Consultant in an long fights to legalise safe abor-
Calling the movement as as practicable, by its laws to de- interview to Irish media post tion — a reproductive right
“culmination of a quiet revolu- fend and vindicate that right.” the incident. of every woman which has
tion”, the Prime Minister of Savita died on October 28, An investigation by Health been denied time and again
Ireland, Leo Varadkar, who 2012, after University Hospital Information and Quality Au- in many countries. A woman
also supports pro-abortion Galway denied her abortion, a thority (Hiqa) further proved only has the right to her health,
law said, “What we see is the request made by her after she that Savita’s death was the re- mind and body and nobody
culmination of a quiet revolu- was contracted with an infec- sult of restrictions by the Irish else, therefore, she should be
tion that has been taking place tion due to septic miscarriage. anti-abortion law that stated: independently allowed to take
in Ireland over the last couple She was 17 weeks pregnant a decision whether she wants
of decades.” with her first child. 1 General lack of provision of to have an abortion or not. And,
“The public has spoken. The The hospital and Savita’s basic, fundamental care, for it is the duty of the government
result appears to be resound- midwife cited reasons for example, not following up on to ensure that her reproduc-
ing ... in favour of repealing the denying the termination of the blood tests. tion rights are allowed; provide
Eigth Amendment,” Varadkar fetus as the same old ‘Irish law’ safe medical care facilities.
said. of 1983 that restricts abortion 2 Failure to recognise that There should be zero inference
as Ireland is a “Catholic coun- she was at risk of clinical from family, government or
The law that killed Savita try”. Savita’s death immediately deterioration. society.
Abortion in Ireland is a sparked a massive outrage What the death of Savita
criminal offence under the across the world, questioning 3 Failure to act or escalate Halappanavar teaches us is
Offences Against the Person rights of a woman to take deci- concerns to an appropri- that the women should now
Act, 1861. According to the sions and the anti-abortion law ately qualified clinician when be given their long-pending
Eighth Amendment of the in particular, when it involves there were signs of clinical rights to make choices whether
Constitution Act, 1983: “The risking mother’s health and deterioration. it is about having an abortion,
state acknowledges the right life. “Under Irish law, if there’s bearing a child, sexual health,
to life of the unborn and, with no evidence of risk to the Lesson Learnt career or life.
due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, our hands Many human rights groups
life of the mother, guarantees are tied as long there’s a fetal have been nailing hard to make letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 june 2018 34 www.Tehelka.com

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