Anti-Repeal Leaflets Distributed on UCD Campus
By Nathan Young | Mar 9 2018
Members of the 'Love Both' campaign are distributing leaflets on UCD campus containing "eight reasons to protect the 8th Amendment." The activists distributing the leaflets are dressed in bright pink 'Love Both' hoodies, and when approached for comment, they refused to comment or to provide contact information on who could be contacted for comment.The leaflets provide the different arguments made by the 'Love Both' campaign for voting no to repealing the 8th amendment. One section claims that the 8th amendment has saved 100,000 lives, a statistic which comes from a report commissioned by the Pro-Life Campaign.Another section dealing with disability and abortion claims that in "In Denmark, they have set a goal to be a Down Syndrome free country by 2030. This can only be achieved through abortion." The source given for this claim does not back up this claim, but states that "The number of children born with Down Syndrome (DS) in Denmark has fallen drastically in recent years – so much so that the disorder could be a thing of the past in 30 years."The experiences of women who became pregnant through rape and continued their pregnancy are also featured on the leaflets, although continuing a pregnancy for victims of rape would still be an option should abortion be legalised.Fatal foetal abnormalities are also discussed, and the leaflets share the story of a mother whose child had Edwards Syndrome. Edwards' syndrome is a severely life-limiting condition, but is not a fatal foetal abnormality.The last page of the leaflets contain the text: "Support Women, Protect Babies ... Each human being, regardless of age, dependency, gender, disability or circumstance, possesses a profound, inherent, equal, and irreplaceable value and dignity."The distribution of leaflets for external organisations on campus violates campus rules unless done with explicit permission form the UCD communications office, however permission is rarely granted out of concerns for litter.