Ireland: Repeal of abortion ban shows shift on women’s rights

Vol. 82/No. 23 - June 11, 2018
Mass celebration in Dublin May 26, day after referendum victory ending ban on abortions.

Determined to end severe restrictions on abortion rights, a large majority in Ireland voted to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the country’s constitution May 25. The amendment “acknowledges the right to life of the unborn” and prevents women’s access to…


School workers in New Zealand rally for equal pay for women

Vol. 82/No. 20 - May 21, 2018

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — More than 200 early childhood teachers, school support workers, teacher aides, school administrators and their families and supporters joined a “Fair’s Fair” rally here May 5 for equal pay for women. The action, part of protests…



Defend women’s right to abortion!

Vol. 82/No. 14 - April 9, 2018

The right of women to control their own bodies — to choose whether to bear children, when and how many, the right to access to abortion — is a precondition for women’s emancipation. And it is in the interest of…


Support for abortion rights grows in Ireland

Vol. 82/No. 14 - April 9, 2018

DUBLIN, Ireland — “Abortion has to be free, safe and legal. We will discuss calmly, courteously and intelligently. Get the vote out and vote for repeal,” was the message when some 5,000 campaigners for the repeal of the Eighth Amendment…


Women’s right to abortion under attack in Mississippi

Vol. 82/No. 14 - April 9, 2018

So far this year state officials in Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, South Carolina and others have proposed laws that would ban abortions from six to 20 weeks after conception. In Ohio a bill introduced March 19 would ban all abortions,…


Mass march for abortion rights in Argentina March 8

Vol. 82/No. 12 - March 26, 2018
Mass march for abortion rights in Argentina March 8

Hundreds of thousands marched in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 8, International Women’s Day, to demand the right of women to choose abortion. The march was organized by the National Campaign for the Right to Safe, Legal and Free Abortion, a…


Cosmetics, fashions and the oppression of women today

Vol. 82/No. 12 - March 26, 2018

In honor of International Women’s Day March 8, the Militant is reprinting an excerpt from the preface to the Cuban edition of Cosmetics, Fashions, and the Exploitation of Women by Evelyn Reed, Joseph Hansen, and Mary-Alice Waters. The Cuban publishing…


Rising support for abortion rights forces referendum vote in Ireland

Vol. 82/No. 8 - February 26, 2018
Sept. 24, 2016, protest in Dublin, part of fight for repeal of abortion ban in Irish Constitution.

LONDON — In response to a growing campaign for abortion rights, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar announced Jan. 29 that a referendum will be held in Ireland this spring on repealing the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment, approved…


Nassar conviction gain for women, judge’s conduct undercuts rights

Vol. 82/No. 7 - February 19, 2018

The exposure of the extent of sexual abuse by sports doctor Lawrence Nassar, who worked for the U.S.A. Gymnastics team, the United States Olympic Committee, Michigan State University, Karolyi ranch and other sports training centers, has drawn international attention and…