Engender blog
Repeal the 8th - how can you help?
Want to help the Mná na hÉireann? (Women of Ireland)
On Friday May 25th people in Ireland will be able to vote on whether or not to repeal the 8th Amendment, which "acknowledges the right to life of the unborn" and results in a near-total ban on abortion.
Even if you're not eligible to vote in the referendum, there are still plenty of things you can do to help, and we've listed some of them below.
Let us know any we've missed in the comments!
Ní Saoirse go Saoirse na mBan (no freedom until women are free)
Guest Post: LIFE
Engender is proud to host this guest comic from Grace Wilson and Jenny Bloomfield.
Of their story Life, they say:
Life is Jenny and Grace's first collaboration. Their second, a humorous short story called The Life and Times of Mhairi Black, will be published in We Shall Fight Until We Win by 404 Ink & BHP Comics this summer.
Artist and writer Grace Wilson has published graphic novel Saving Grace with Jonathan Cape, a darkly comic commentary on the London housing crisis. More of Grace's work can be found at gracewilson.co.uk.
Reflections on #AbortionActat50
Last week, our Policy and Parliamentary Manager, Emma Trottier, attended a conference titled: ‘The Abortion Act: A Promise Fulfilled?’, which asked important legal, historical and political questions about women’s reproductive rights in the UK. While asking questions about our direction of travel, the conference also explored the strategies and steps needed to make change happen.
The Abortion Act: 50 years on
Today marks 50 years since the 1967 Abortion Act, which allowed women to access abortion in certain circumstances. While the act was undoubtedly a key moment in the history of women’s rights, and helped end fatal backstreet abortions, it is underpinned by outdated beliefs that reproductive choice should sit with the state. Under the act, abortion must be administered in an approved medical facility (more on that below), must be within the first 24 weeks of a pregnancy, and must be approved by two doctors – the most paternalistic aspect of abortion law, and one which undermines women’s autonomy and decision-making about her own body and life choices.
Abortion internationally – how does Scotland measure up?
On the International Day of Safe Abortion, Engender have released our latest report which shows where Scotland sits internationally with regard to abortion rights. Focusing on countries in the western world, we highlight the positive examples of Canada and territories in Australia which have decriminalised abortion, respecting women’s autonomy over their own bodies.
RSSDownloads
Engender Briefing: Pension Credit Entitlement Changes
From 15 May 2019, new changes will be introduced which will require couples where one partner has reached state pension age and one has not (‘mixed age couples’) to claim universal credit (UC) instead of Pension Credit.
Engender Parliamentary Briefing: Condemnation of Misogyny, Racism, Harassment and Sexism
Engender welcomes this Scottish Parliament Debate on Condemnation of Misogyny, Racism, Harassment and Sexism and the opportunity to raise awareness of the ways in which women in Scotland’s inequality contributes to gender-based violence.
Gender Matters in Social Security: Individual Payments of Universal Credit
A paper calling on the Scottish Government to automatically split payments of Universal Credit between couples, once this power is devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Gender Matters Manifesto: Twenty for 2016
This manifesto sets out measures that, with political will, can be taken over the next parliamentary term in pursuit of these goals.
Scottish NGO Briefing for UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
Joint briefing paper for the UN Rapporteur on Violence Against Women.
Newsletter
Sign up to receive our newsletter here:
Sign up to our mailing list
Receive key feminist updates direct to your inbox:
