The students of NUI Galway have decided that their college will take a pro-choice stance on abortion.
This comes after 2,478 of the 3,454 students that voted in the referendum supported NUI Galway adopting a pro-choice stance. This means the college is supportive of the national campaign for full reproductive rights, which includes a woman’s right to abortion, whether needed for medical reasons or not.
NUIG’s decision follows that of DCU and Trinity College after they put the motion to students in their colleges.
The motion for this referendum was requested by 500 members of the college’s union and was then passed to referendum. NUI Galway went for the traditional yes /no vote.
Students were given the following statement: “That NUI Galway Students’ Union adopt a Pro-Choice position, in support of the national campaign for full reproductive rights, which includes a woman’s right to abortion, whether elective or medically necessary. Furthermore, the Students’ Union will use every available measure to realise these rights on campus and nationally.”
They were then asked to vote yes/ no.
This was unlike the recent referenda on the abortion issue in DCU and Trinity College Union, where students voted using a preference system, where the motion was offered with several options. These ranged from allowing abortion only in line with the X case ruling, to allowing it on all grounds to not allowing it at all.
Following this decision, NUIG Students’ Union say will use every measure available to realise these rights on campus and nationally.
Nicole O’Connor
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