Rebecca Kiessling, a world-renowned pro-life activist, explains why the Eighth Amendment must be protected. 

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is launching a new video calling on Irish people throughout the world to rally to the defence of the nation's unborn children. In Ireland children in the womb are currently protected from abortion by the pro-life 8th amendment of the Irish Constitution.

This pro-life amendment, passed in 1983, reads:

"The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right."

Saved 100,000 lives 

This amendment, which is estimated to have saved more than 100,000 lives since its introduction in 1983, is under sustained attack from international pro-abortion campaigners. The Irish government has convened a Citizen's Assembly to discuss proposals to repeal the 8th amendment and thus overturn constitutional protection for unborn children. The Citizen's Assembly consists of 99 Irish citizens, selected by a polling agency, which will convene under the chairmanship of Justice Mary Laffoy. It is widely expected that the assembly will recommend that a referendum be held on the repeal of the amendment. This will probably be held early in 2018, though it is possible that it may be held during 2017.

Protect the Eighth Amendment

In the new video leading pro-life campaigners in Ireland, and from the Irish diaspora worldwide, explain why the 8th amendment must be preserved and defended. Speakers include former presidential candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon, internationally renowned pro-life speaker Rebecca Kiessling, and former MEP and disability rights campaigner Kathy Sinnott. The video also features Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, a leading Catholic figure in the pro-life movement. SPUC urges all its supporters worldwide to watch and share this video and take action to defend the children of Ireland.

Action points

SPUC's new video and briefing leaflet (download below) set out the key arguments that must made be now in defence of Ireland's unborn children. We invite supporters worldwide to familiarise themselves with these arguments and then take action as follows:

• The Citizen's Assembly is calling for submissions and SPUC encourages pro-life advocates from across the world to make submissions here.
• We ask Irish citizens to write to their TDs to demand that the Dail reject all attempts to repeal the pro-life 8th amendment. You can find the email address and postal address of your TD here.
• We invite everyone throughout the world, and especially members of the Irish diaspora, to contact members of Dail, members of the Seanad, and government ministers to ask them to fulfil their duty and defend the right-to-life of Ireland’s unborn children. Full contact details, including email addresses all of members and ministers, can be found here

For more information please contact enquiry@voiceofthefamily.com.