Sinn Fein debates abortion policy SINN FEIN's policy on abortion was the second most contentious issue at its recent Ard-Fheis. Last year delegates had surprisingly -and narrowly - added the phrase: "We recognise that women have the right to choose" to existing poliey. (1) It passed by 77 to 73 votes after the majority of delegates had left the conference. TONI GORTON
IRELAND they have given it no time, resources or thought. We must lead the people of Ireland on this question. Freedom of choice should apply to all areas of life."
She was supported by a large number of women experienced in Sinn Fein, veterans of all its major campaigns, some of whom gave day to day counselling to prisoners' wives in the North and spoke from their real experiences.
Referring to their republican beliefs, one Belfast woman said that most people feel that life is sacred, but those here feel that other values are more important - justice and liberty for example. She felt people were using the "sanctity of life" the "cantity of life" argument as a smokescreen to hide their real views, which were that carrying through a pregnancy was a punishment. If women don't make the decisions over their owl. lives, who does decide? Doctors are given power over two lives. A very small minority characterized abortion as "murder" and expressed total opposition to it. The only circumstances in which it is permissable to take a life, said one delegate, was in self-defence and in the armed struggle. Queuing up along with all the other delegates, Gerry Adams said that last year the Ard Chomhairle had opposed the "woman's choice" not because we're anti-feminist, but because it's identified with the "abortion on demand" slogan. He stressed its contradictory character and appealed for people not to "go too tar, too tast, to keep the discussion going and for others not to reject the basic policy"
Replying to the debate, Rita O Hare objected that some delegates had "defended the leadership's proposals" for the wrong reasons. Ours is a "progressive" stand, she said. "We will be taking a strong stand on our policies. We take positions because theyuse they ith tiand ose soned, not In other discussions, the Ard-Fheis reaffirmed policy on the organization of childcare to encourage women to become active, especially as candidates. It voted down a proposal to end the system of positive discrimination for women at the leadership level. On gay and lesbian rights it said:
"Sinn Fein publicly demands the decriminalization of homosexual acts between men, and also calls for full equal rights for lesbian women and gay men with their heterosexual counterparts."
1. For a report on last year's Ard-Fheis, see International Viewpoint' No 87, November 25, 1985.
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In the view of the leadership the policy became contradictory, a "fudge". The party had not been prepared and it took different positions publicly. (One delegate referred to physical attacks on Sinn Fein candidates in nationalist areas as a direct result of this decision.)
The Ard Chomhairle (executive) recommended the removal of the phrase this year. Overwhelmingly carried, the policy now reverts to pre-1985 and says:
"We are opposed to the attitudes and forces that compel women to have abortions, we are opposed to abortion as a means of birth control, but we accept the need for abortion where the woman's life is at risk or in grave danger, e.g. ectopic pregnancy and all forms of cancer."
Sile Fanning, officer for the women's department set the tone for the debate. "We export our abortion problem to Britain" , she declared. "No positive alternatives to abortion are given. Women who become pregnant outside marriage are punished -unwed mothers are forced out of their homes. Young girls are accused of deliberately "seducing' men in order to get pregnant and get the paltry government handouts available. We must continue education on this issue."
Rita O' Hare emphasized the leadership's framework, stating categorically that the "woman's life is paramount."
Broadly, three positions were put: no abortion under any circumstances; abortion under limited conditions (medical); and women's choice/decriminalization.
The whole of Ireland is dominated by the Church - the South is one of the most Roman Catholic Church dominated countries in the world. The Church is active, aggressive, and remorseless in its political campaigns, especially against women's rights. The recent defeat of the divorce bill, and the long delay in access to contraceptive facilities, show the success the Church has in maintaining its power.
The social conditions which alllow the Church's teachings to prevail are a long way from being changed. The most important factor against this is the partition of Ireland. Meanwhile, thousands of women and men suffer from the lack of individual freedom which the Church/state official morality denies them, North and South. "Our aim is to establish a secular state"
Following last year's Ard-Fheis, women in Derry set up a working group on abortion which drafted a new resolution that recognised the problems set up by last year's decision.
It stated: "Our aim is to establish a secular state. As a secular organization, we believe that the state, its constitution, its laws and criminal code should not embody the code of any particular religion, theology or morality.
"We therefore accept the individual's right to make a conscientious decision for or against abortion without coercion from any other individual or group. In the meantime, we recognize that present legislation must respect the rights and beliefs of minorities and must not criminalize those who avail themselves of abortion in accordance with their conscience. Our short-term objective is to encourage further discussion and examination of all aspects of this issue aimed at advancing the overall understanding to that end. Non-directive pregnancy counselling embodying all choices should be freely available." This was defeated, 117 for and 212 against.
Daisy Mules, a leader of the trade union department speaking for this motion, stated that the Ard Chomhairle position was "disappointing -
International Viewpoint 8 December 1986