 LADYFEST returns to Dublin after 9 years with a bang!! Bringing you the best Dublin's music scene has to offer in female focused acts, LADYFEST kicks off at 7:30 in Sweeneys on Dame Street!
Tickets: €7.00 waged, €5 unwaged - available on the door. Featuring: Bitch Falcon Fauve Chapman Elaine Mai Marita Connolly Temper-Mental MissElayneous Big Girls Big Band Toy Soldier + more to be announced
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 We had a fantastic time marching in the 2013 Dublin Pride parade. Not only was it the 30th anniversary of gay pride in Ireland, but it was also the 20th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland. It's amazing to think we've come so far as a nation in terms of LGBTQ rights in such a short time. However, there is still so much more to do. Marriage Equality, parental rights and more widespread acceptance and respect for LGBTQ people are still to be achieved. Judging by the huge numbers, energy and great atmosphere at Pride this year, it's only a matter of time! Check out some photos of our banner and display below. 
 Press Release & Podcast: Group of organisations to raise common points and reservations regarding Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill
Following the Oireachtas hearings with medical and legal experts on the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill, a group of 11 organisations not represented at the hearings come together today at a press conference to demand a range of changes to the proposed legislation. Representatives of the organisations collectively called for the following amendments to the Bill: 1. Offence Criminalisation: the proposed legislation replaces the Offences against the Person Act 1861 rather than repealing it. The government must repeal the relevant sections of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 and decriminalise abortion. Criminalisation does not work; it causes pain and suffering to women, is incompatible with international human rights norms and according to the ECHR has a chilling effect on women and doctors 2. Risk of loss of life from self-destruction There is no medical or clinical justification for the requirement that a panel of doctors authorise an abortion on grounds of risk to life arising from risk of suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy. The requirement of a second psychiatrist does not apply when a pregnancy is not involved. The Mental Health Act 2001 requires only two medical practitioners to authorise the involuntary detention of an individual on mental health grounds, including risk to life by suicide. The proposed legislation requires up to seven practitioners to assess risk to life by suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy and authorise a termination on grounds of such a risk to life. An arbitrary distinction is being drawn between physical risk to life and risk to life arising from risk of suicide due to an unwanted pregnancy. The current proposal requires unanimity between an obstetrician and two psychiatrists for the approval of abortion, giving the obstetrician – with no competence in suicide assessment power of veto over two consenting psychiatrists. Consultation with the woman’s GP should only take place with her prior consent. 3. Conscientious objection There should be an explicit duty to treat in a medical emergency regardless of any conscientious objection. Legislative provision must be made to ensure that medical professionals are required to declare anti-choice views, and that they have a duty to absent themself from any panel deciding on abortion. Any panel should only consist of non-conscientious objectors. It must be ensured that non-objecting providers are accessible and available throughout the country. 4. Formal medical review procedures A two-week review period is unrealistic and could result in serious and potentially fatal repercussions. Best international practice is that a decision is made within 3 days. Realistic timeframes must be included in the new legislation. 5. Broaden the scope of the legislation to include fatal foetal abnormalities and pregnancies resulting from rape and incest. Organisations supporting these changes include: National Women’s Council of Ireland, Action on X, Abortion Rights Campaign, Doctors for Choice, ICTU Women’s Committee, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Irish Family Planning Association, Irish Feminist Network, Termination for Medical Reasons Group, Cork Women’s Right to Choose Group and Galway Pro Choice Group What: Press Conference – Common points and reservations on Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill When: Wednesday, 22nd May, 10:30 am Where: Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin Listen to a podcast of the press conference here:  Press Release
Saturday, September 29th 2012 For immediate use “Political will, not public opinion, is preventing action on abortion” The Irish Feminist Network will today (Saturday, September 29th) participate along with thousands of others in a March for Choice to mark the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion and celebrate their support for a woman’s right to choose. IFN co-ordinator Alison Spillane said, “Today is a historic day – not only are we marking the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion but we are also reminding the government that this issue is not going away. The most recent opinion poll (Sunday Times, September 16th 2012) shows that 80% of the electorate support access to abortion when a woman’s life is at risk, as per the X case judgment. It is clear that political will, not public opinion, is holding this issue back.” “The government’s expert group was initially due to report in July of this year before the deadline was extended to September – we are now at the end of the month and no report has been published. The government must immediately make public the findings of the expert group and legislate for X”, she said. “Today we march in solidarity with over 150,000 women who, since 1980, have been forced out of this country to access abortion services abroad and together we demand change to Ireland’s archaic and barbaric abortion laws”. ENDS Notes to the editor: The Irish Feminist Network is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting gender equality in Ireland. With over 3,000 online supporters, it is the fastest growing feminist organisation in the country. The March for Choice will start at the Spire on O’Connell Street at 2pm before proceeding to Merrion Square. Speakers include Clare Daly TD, Senator Ivana Bacik and journalist Colette Browne.  When: Wednesday, 4th July at 7.00pm
Where: The Sugar Club, map here The Film: An Encounter with Simone Weil Facebook Event: here The Irish Feminist Network invites you to the Irish premiere of the award winning film 'An Encounter with Simone Weil'. The film tells the story of French philosopher, activist, and mystic, Simone Weil (1909-1943) - a woman Albert Camus described as 'the only great spirit of our time.' On her quest to understand Simone Weil, filmmaker Julia Haslett confronts profound questions of moral responsibility both within her own family and the larger world. From the battlefields of the Spanish Civil War to anti-war protests in Washington DC, from intimate exchanges between the filmmaker and her older brother who struggles with depression to captivating interviews with people who knew Simone Weil, the film takes us on an unforgettable journey into the heart of what it means to be a compassionate human being. Weil asked us this question: How do we respond to human suffering? The filmmaker, in turn, wants to know: How do we remain engaged without ultimately destroying ourselves as Weil did when she died from self-starvation at age 34? Drawing on current news and observational footage, Haslett's narration draws provocative comparisons between Weil’s insight and the world today. The result is a deeply moving film that not only challenges us to think and to feel, but encourages us to initiate important political, psychological, and interfaith dialogue. The screening will be followed by a live Skype Q and A session with the filmmaker, Julia Haslett. Further details and trailer are available from here: http://www.linestreet.net/ Tickets costing 7 Euro and 4 Euro for students/unwaged, are available from here: http://entertainment.ticketsolve.com/shows/873482545/events Any questions? Email us at irishfeministnetwork@gmail.com  When: 6pm – 8pm, Tuesday, March 27th
Where: Exchange Dublin, Exchange Street Upper, Temple Bar Why: To ask your TDs to support the X case legislation Join the IFN on Tuesday, March 27th for an evening of tea, cake, and a bit of lobbying! We’ll be holding a letter-writing group in Exchange Dublin encouraging people to write to their local TDs asking them to support the X case legislation when it comes before the Dáil after Easter. The aim of the Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in Case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill is to legislate for the 1992 Supreme Court judgment in the X case, which ruled that abortion is legal in Ireland when the life of a woman is at risk, including the threat of suicide. Successive governments have failed to legislate for this basic human right but opposition TDs Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, and Joan Collins have put forward this Bill to implement the X case ruling. In advance of the Dáil debate, all TDs need to know their constituents support this legislation. If you have a laptop you can bring along – great! If not, no worries – we’ll have a plentiful supply of paper and pens for some good old-fashioned handwritten letters. We’ll also have sample letters for inspiration and background information on the legislation. Feel free to bring the kids along as we’ll have a colouring corner and a mountain of biscuits to keep them occupied. The event will run from 6pm to 8pm so feel free to drop in for half an hour or join us for the evening. Any questions? Contact us on irishfeministnetwork@gmail.com  Miss Representation is a documentary about the media’s negative portrayal of women and girls. Now is your chance to bring this important film to your school / group / club. Though Miss Representation is American, we feel that its message and the questions it raises are important in an Irish context. The IFN has hosted two sold-out screenings, and we know that more people want to see the film. The Irish Feminist Network is proud to announce that (with some legal constraints) we can now offer to screen the film at your school / group / club for a limited time only. If you would like to screen Miss Representation, the requirements are:
We hope you’ll consider screening this film. Please contact us at irishfeministnetwork@gmail.com to arrange a screening.  The IFN needs YOU! Want to get involved? Want to tell us what we should be doing? Now’s your chance….! Our 1st volunteer meeting will take place at 7pm on Tuesday, December 13th at the Duke pub. This will be an introductory meeting to talk about our activities, give you a chance to share your opinion and gather your feedback on the IFN. It will also be an opportunity to meet like-minded people over pints, share experiences and make new friends. In future we would like to hold monthly volunteer meetings. We would like to revive the IFN’s old Feminism in the Pub series, but we can't do that without you guys! At each meeting we’ll discuss a particular issue or campaign. Come along, air your views and make your suggestions.
Want to write for the blog? Want to organise campaigns? Want to inspire a feminist revolution..? We’re right there with you! Everyone is welcome and we would love to see you there! Emma |
The News & Events page is used to release official IFN statements and advertise events.
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