Our campaign goes to the USA – Time for change

The USA was instrumental in bringing about the landmark Belfast Good Friday Agreement and continues to play a pivotal role in highlighting the importance of protecting fundamental rights in Ireland North and South.

In recognition of this, in March 2011 a joint delegation from FPA in Northern Ireland and the Irish Family Planning Association travelled to Washington to meet with American political representatives and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Their mission was to lobby for an end to the criminalisation of abortion on the island of Ireland.

The delegation in Washington

The cross-Ireland pro-choice delegation meet with Congresswoman Diana De Gette in Washington DC to lobby for rights to abortion in Ireland.

Pictured left to right: Claire Power, Assistant to Liz McManus; Niall Behan, Chief Executive IFPA; Dawn Purvis MLA, Independent Member of the Legislative Assembly; Liz McManus, former Labour party TD; Congresswoman Diana DeGette; Audrey Simpson, Director of FPA in Northern Ireland; Sara Hutchinson, Catholics for Choice.

150 years of discrimination and denial in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

150 years of discrimination and denial – The criminalization of abortion in Ireland (PDF)

Letter introducing our delegation to Washington

 Information about the delegation (PDF)

Why abortion rights are human rights

Abortion rights are human rights (PDF)

Women in Northern Ireland are not entitled to legal safe abortion

Find out what happens to women in Northern Ireland denied an abortion

Watch our videos telling the stories of real women who have contacted our unplanned pregnancy counselling service.

Mary was told her baby was so seriously ill it wouldn't live after its birth and denied an abortion.

Irene's pregnancy could have caused her to go blind but she was denied an abortion.

More about the Time for Change campaign to recognise women’s reproductive rights in Northern Ireland.