Irish abortion laws under fire

A human rights campaign group has hit out at the Irish government for failing to provide...

A human rights campaign group has hit out at the Irish government for failing to provide adequate information for women in need of an abortion.

Human Rights Watch accused the government of "stonewalling" women in need of an abortion by limiting the amount of information that is provided and failing to tackle "rogue" unwanted pregnancy groups which perpetuate misconceptions about the side effects of the procedure.

According to a report from the group, women have been told they may require a hysterectomy or even a colostomy bag following the procedure, which is currently illegal in the country.

The accusations have been made prior to a landmark ruling from the European court of human rights on the case of three women who claimed that the government jeopardised their health and well-being by forcing them to seek an abortion overseas.

Marianne Mollmann, the women's rights advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said: "Women in need of abortion services should, as a matter of international law and human decency, be able to count on support from their government as they face a difficult situation.

"But in Ireland they are actively stonewalled, stigmatised, and written out."

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