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AIBU?

Does Mumsnet really support illegal abortions?

65 replies

saturnvista · 14/06/2015 22:04

Just that, really. Read it on my facebook feed. Surely not?

OP posts:
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SweetAndFullOfGrace · 14/06/2015 22:08

Do you think it means the Just Giving week support of the Abortion Support Network?

If that's what your Facebook means it's just supporting Irish women who want to have private abortions in the UK. Which is legal.

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GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 14/06/2015 22:08

I think most pro choice people would want abortion before 20 weeks to be legal anywhere in the world. If I had a friend who was in a country where abortion is illegal I would do everything I could to get her to a country where she could have a legal abortion.

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NinkyNonkers · 14/06/2015 22:08

As far as I know many of us support the right to choose, and would support that choice being made available to women who live in countries that do not give them agency over their own bodies...if that's what you mean?

I know people who would send abortion pills to women in Ireland for example.

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KingTut · 14/06/2015 22:11

Who wouldn't want a Woman the right to control over her own body?

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Penfold007 · 14/06/2015 22:16

My personal opinion is no Mumsnet in no way supports illegal abortion. It does support a woman's right to have control.and choice over her own body.

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shoepolish · 14/06/2015 22:17

Unless you live in a place where women can't get an abortion, as I do, then you wouldn't understand. I'm glad someone is supporting the rights of individual women to choose what happens to their own bodies and lives.
I'd never heard that abortion pills can be sent to those who need it but I'm bloody glad that somebody is prepared to do this. What a travesty that it needs to happen like that in this day and age.

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NinkyNonkers · 14/06/2015 22:18

That may be Chinese whispers around here but I am sure it happens in wider circles.

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MistressMerryWeather · 14/06/2015 22:19

I believe MN supports every woman's right to a medically safe abortion.

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saturnvista · 14/06/2015 22:24

Ok. I equated illegal with 'backstreet', like buying ambien on the internet. I still have questions about whether what's being done will be considered illegal by the authorities in Ireland and if so, what is in place to ensure that women feel able to seek medical help if necessary.

OP posts:
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emilystrange2013 · 14/06/2015 22:59

Its not illegal for Irish women to travel for an abortion (which is what ASN facilitate)

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VivaLeBeaver · 14/06/2015 23:16

Mumsnet itself doesn't.

There was a thread last week where a poster talked about how she sends abortion pills to women in countries where they can't access abortions. What she's doing is illegal. There were a lot of people on that thread saying what a great service she's providing. So yes, some Mumsnetters it could be argued support illegal abortion if you want to be technical.

I think most people here just wish that women the world over had access to legal abortions.

So now some Irish person I've never heard of has her knickers in a twist and wants MN shut down. never going to happen

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VivaLeBeaver · 14/06/2015 23:23

Article here about abortion support network, Mumsnet and online ordering]]

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LineRunner · 14/06/2015 23:27

I just wish women in NI had the same rights to bodily autonomy as women in the rest of the UK.

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Thancred · 14/06/2015 23:30

Hopefully, one day soon, they will have.

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NeedsAsockamnesty · 14/06/2015 23:40

I'm not entirely sure mumsnet supports anything at all other than peace love and gin.

What they do do is promote there users views and those are overwhelmingly in favour of safe legal abortions where ever you live.

As such they are happy to support a service that campaigns for such things and assists women to travel to places where they can obtain safe legal abortions.

I'm quite please such organisations exist but would be delighted if they didn't need to exist

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pigwitch · 14/06/2015 23:48

Having lived there - they make me sick.

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MistressMerryWeather · 15/06/2015 00:02

I hope this doesn't turn into a NI bashing thread.

I live here and believe me, the majority of people would like things to be different.

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LucyBabs · 15/06/2015 00:08

No NI or ROI bashing will be seen on Mn Wink I'm from the ROI. Mners in general don't agree with our laws. (Thankfully) #repelthe8th

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TriJo · 15/06/2015 00:19

Tbh, as an Irish woman (originally from Dublin but now live in London) it's nice to know that there are plenty of women outside of the island who support us in terms of this sort of thing!

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MistressMerryWeather · 15/06/2015 00:33

Ditto Tri.

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LayMeDown · 15/06/2015 00:43

It is categorically not illegal for Irish women to seek an abortion in the UK. The ASN helps women with the traumatic process of having to travel a distance to another country to obtain a legal termination. Both logistically and financially.

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BigChocFrenzy · 15/06/2015 02:35

Those who ask the OP's question are usually those who think women shouldn't have access to legal abortion either, even in the UK.

The RoI is an independent country, but the UK has allowed NI to remain in its religious timewarp, so those laws are our fault for being cowardly.
When it comes to human rights, UK law should supercede that of devolved governments.
NI women are second class citizens wrt reproductive rights.

The UK will continue to be brought before the Courts - cases ongoing in Belfast and London - and probably to the European Court of Human Rights until NI women have justice.

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MrsTerryPratchett · 15/06/2015 05:16

It is categorically not illegal for Irish women to seek an abortion in the UK. Frankly, even if it was illegal, I would still support women doing what they want with their own bodies. Some things are higher than the law of the land and one of those is bodily autonomy.

I don't want to invoke Godwin's Law but if a law goes against basic human rights (think Nazi Germany) then it is right to oppose it.

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sashh · 15/06/2015 08:01

what is in place to ensure that women feel able to seek medical help if necessary.

Well there are organisation such as ASN but within Ireland (inc NI) I'm not sure what there is, or whether it would be wise.

I don't think Ireland gives life sentences to women who take the morning after pill, unlike some countries. I think there are people who would want that to be the case but I also believe the numbers are dwindling. But as ever the 'abortion is murder' brigade are vocal.

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MidniteScribbler · 15/06/2015 08:07

But if the women seek an abortion in a place where it is legal to do so, then they are not doing anything illegal. Going to Ireland and practicing abortion would be illegal, a woman leaving Ireland and travelling to where she can legally have an abortion is doing nothing against any law.

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