Rogue crisis pregnancy agency the "Women's Resource Centre" has been forced to change its name following a sustained campaign by Choice Ireland. read full story / add a comment

Kobra Najjar, an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning for adultery has lost her final appeal for amnesty. Iranian women’s rights activists working on her case saythat Kobra has exhausted all domestic legal remedies and that her execution by stoning could happen any time. Kobra is a victim of domestic violence who was forced into prostitution by her abusive husband in order to support his heroin addiction. He was murdered by one of Kobra’s “clients” who sympathized with her plight. Kobra has already served 8 years in prison as an accessory to her husband’s murder. The man who murdered her husband also served 8 years in prison and was free after paying blood money and undergoing 100 lashes, while Kobra faces imminent stoning to death for adultery - the prostitution her husband forced upon her. Yet another example of Iranian justice. read full story / add a comment

Last year Pride in Latvia took place hemmed in a closed off park surrounded by Riot Police and hundreds of homophobic protesters.
These images and report follows on the fight for sexual freedom and civil rights one year on in Latvia. read full story / add a comment

“Where pride once mobilised, it now marshals that consensus as our anger and frustration into a range of diversionary shopping opportunities. The battle is no longer about(if it ever has been) equality and acceptance, but liberation and simply survival as human beings against a system galloping towards the abyss.” read full story / add a comment

Saturday lunchtime saw dozens of pro-choice activists take part in the final picket of the month of action against the rogue pregnancy counselling agency on Dorset street, read full story / add a comment

SDLP Youth have today announced a demonstration against the homophobic comments made in local press and at Westminster committees by Iris Robinson MP MLA. read full story / add a comment

Yesterday Choice Ireland picketed the WRC on Dorset street - they intend to picket every Saturday (1pm) this month to highlight "the lies, bullying, and manipulation of the WRC". read full story / add a comment

The North American section of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement issue a statement to commemorate the 39th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. read full story / add a comment

A bit of rain didn't stop thousands from taking to the streets of Dublin to celebrate what is now a fixture in the Irish calendar and to campaign for Marraige Equality for same sex relationships. This year saw the 25th anniversary and homage was paid to the years of campaigning and how far Irish society has come. However there was a recognition that not all was won and the struggle for full equality still goes on. read full story / add a comment

An estimated 3,000 people turned in Dublin yesterday for the annual Gay Pride parade. read full story / add a comment

This year see’s the first (and hopefully last!) Miss UCD beauty pageant, sponsored by UCDSU ,alongside trashy tabloids The sun and News of the world. The first Miss UCD takes place on Thursday 17th April. The winner of the ‘competition’ will win automatic entry to Miss Ireland as well as winning beauty makeovers , clothes and a gym membership. Miss Ireland and hence Miss UCD bans all mothers, wives and women under 5’4 from entering.These sexist competitions have no place in Ireland and particularly in UCD. These types of competitions are demeaning and are an excuse for putting sexism on parade They encourage the idea that women should be seen as sex objects to be judged by men, as well as making women believe that to be desirable they have to conform to unrealistic types of ‘beauty’.

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This is a brief link to the Irish Safe and Legal campaign, who have linked to the
Pro-choice Majority Campaign in Britain in relation to the attempt through
legislation to reduce the Upper Abortion Limit, as part of the HFEB Bill .

On May the Seventh 2008, the Houses in the UK will vote on a divisive Bill
which has actively left women's rights and NGO groups out of the equation
in relation to Choice and Healthcare issues.

http://www.safeandlegal.blogspot.com

The HFEB is called the Human Fertilisation and Embrology Bill. (HEFB 2008) read full story / add a comment

A major and imminent threat to women’s rights looms in the amendments being put forward to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. ‘Pro-life’ MPs aim to reduce the time limit for abortion from 24 weeks to as little as 13 weeks.

Although the Labour Party formally defends the current time limits, Gordon Brown like his predecessors will allow a free vote, so as to appease the significant and vocal anti-abortion section within the cabinet. From reports, it seems likely that there will be some reduction, probably to 20 weeks, given the current balance of forces, as there is strong support for such a move among Tory, Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs alike - all of whom will have a free vote. David Cameron has taken the lead by announcing that he will be using his vote to lower the limit.

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On International Women's Day this year, women took to the streets of Dublin, in celebration of Dublin's feminist history and in realisation of what still needs to be done. read full story / add a comment

Every year we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th. This goes back to 1910, when an international conference of socialist women decided that 'women the world over set aside a particular day each year to remember women and their struggles.' read full story / add a comment

Press Release for the Feminist Walking Tour of Dublin. read full story / add a comment

HOPI is involved in organising meetings to commemorate Women’s Day as follows :

Wed 5th March

Lourdes Youth & Community Services in Rutland Street have arranged a lunchtime meeting at 1 pm.

Thursday 6th March at the following venues in Finglas:
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Choice Ireland has welcomed the Government's decision to reduce VAT on condoms. The measure is included in the Finance Bill 2008, published today.
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The Republic of Argentina shares many sociohistorical parallels with the Republic of Ireland. Both have been traditionally conservative, christian nations, with the Roman Catholic Church having a privileged position of power in all areas of public life. Even so, due to massive demonstrations and strong activist commitment, coupled with horrifying stories which came to the attention of the press, it became impossible for the government to stay impassive any longer. While abortion hasn't become legal in Argentina, this article will explore its history, the parallels with Ireland, and recent developments which may be opening the way for safe and legal abortion in the South American nation. read full story / add a comment

This week saw a state wide campaign launched in Italy to stop anorexia nervosa the psychological eating condition which overwhelmingly but not exclusively is suffered by women. There have been many campaigns to stop anorexia since the condition first gained prominence just around post-war period when Europeans generally had enough to eat again. But the campaign launched by Oliviero Toscani of Benetton notoriety could just as easily be accused of body fascism & means something more. read full story / add a comment