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Amnesty International Ireland Says It Has Not Opted Out of Organization's Abortion Advocacy Contrary to Reports

By Elizabeth O'Brien

DUBLIN, Ireland, August 21, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Despite some misleading media headlines, the Ireland branch of Amnesty International has not opted out of the organization's recent position of abortion advocacy. Funding International Ireland will mean funding the pro-abortion Amnesty International as a whole.

LifeSiteNews.com contacted Noeleen Hartigan, program director for Amnesty International's Irish Section, to confirm the branch's official standing on the abortion policy. LifeSiteNews.com asked whether Amnesty International Ireland is opting out of the abortion policy and whether, "the Ireland branch (will) still be sending funds to Amnesty International." In her reply Hartigan stated, "Amnesty International Irish Section is not 'opting out' of the policy." She also stated that, "The adoption of the new policy on sexual and reproductive rights will not change the Irish Section's role within the international movement."

In an August 17 editorial, however, Ireland's Independent claimed that Amnesty Ireland is "staying neutral." The Irish Times also published the following headline on July 28, "Irish Amnesty branch opts out of new abortion policy."

Hartigan explained the actual situation to LifeSiteNews.com, saying, "The International Secretariat will, in consultation with national sections, develop campaigning actions to support women's sexual and reproductive rights, including where relevant, action on selected aspects of abortion. At this point, when campaigning actions are to be implemented, all national sections of Amnesty International will decide which of these are relevant and appropriate to undertake at the domestic level."

She continued, "In the Irish Section we will not be campaigning on the issue as it is not something our membership wish to work on. Amnesty International is one movement," she further explained. "It is diverse in its membership throughout the world and within Ireland."

While not actively campaigning on abortion, Amnesty Ireland has not severed itself from the "one movement" Amnesty International and the abortion policy that it promotes. As Amnesty's deputy secretary-general Kate Gilmore said, quoted by Kaiser Network, "No one country can step away from the decisions of the organization as a whole." She added, "In Ireland's case, it's a matter of promoting other campaigns and finding areas that Ireland can work to its best strengths."

Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, warned earlier in June, "I believe that, if in fact Amnesty International persists in this course of action, individuals and Catholic organizations must withdraw their support, because, in deciding to promote abortion rights, AI has betrayed its mission."

Read previous LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Vatican: Catholics and Catholic Organizations "Must" Withdraw Support of Amnesty International over Abortion Support
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jun/07061401.html

It's Official - Amnesty International is Now An Abortion Lobby Group - Catholics Boycott
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/aug/07082001.html

Pro-Abortion Stand by Amnesty International Leading to Loss of Support
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07052807.html

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