A chara, – The UN Human Rights Committee has on July 24th recommended that “The State party should: Revise its legislation on abortion, including its Constitution, to provide for additional exceptions in cases of rape, incest, serious risks to the health of the mother, or fatal foetal abnormality.”
It seems that the committee has overlooked Article 6, Paragraph 1 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: “Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” The covenant does not restrict this right to life by applying it only to human beings after birth. That right to life is “inherent” to every human being. It is not a right granted by the United Nations or by any other; nor can it be taken away.
Irish law and the Constitution protect that right to life, including of the unborn child. The State has a duty to provide such support as will facilitate and support those facing situations such as those mentioned to care for the life of both mother and child. There is much room for improvement in how the State and Irish society might provide this support, without depriving the child of life.
The chairman of the Human Rights Committee, Sir Nigel Rodley, misused his position in rejecting as “unspeakably arrogant” an Irish NGO which offered a submission to the committee in line with Article 6 of the covenant. Ireland will in no way be in breach of international obligations in rejecting this recommendation of the committee. Ireland will be in breach of Article 6 of the covenant if we fail to provide in law and in fact the support necessary in the cases mentioned. – Is mise,
PÁDRAIG MCCARTHY,
Sandyford,
Dublin 16