The 1986 (national of Sinn Fein took place in Dublin's Mansion House over the weekend of 1/2 November.
The conference will be remembered chiefly for its decision to end the 65-year old policy of refusing to take seats if elected to the Dublin Sinn Fein's policy on abortion was the second most contentious issue at its recent Ard Fheis. Last year delegates had added the phrase 'We recognise that women have the right to choose' to existing policy narrowly passed 77-73 delegates had lett.
and it took different positions publicly.
Toni Gorton reports from Dublin The Ard Chomhairle (national committee) commended the removal of the sentence in question. Overwhelming y carried, the policy now reads We are opposed to the attitudes and forces that women have abortions, we are opposed to abortion as a means of the need for abortion where the woman's life is at risk or in grave danger, for example, ectopic pregnancy and ail forms cancer.
Sile Fanning, officer for the women's department, set the tone for the 'We export our abortion problem to Britain' she declared. 'No positive alternatives abortion given. Women who become pregnant outside marriage are punished unwed mothers are forced out of their homes. Young girls are accused of deliberately "seducing' men in order to pregnant and get the paltry government handouts available. We must continue education on this issue.
Rita O'Hare editor of Republican emphasised the leadershin's ramework stating categorically that the 'woman's life is paramount'.
Broadly, three position were put: abortion under any circumstances;
limited conditons (medical)
choice/decriminalisation.
The discussion takes place against the background of being dominated by the church. The south is one of the most Roman Catholic church-dominated countries The church is active, aggressive, remorseless IN its parliament, Leinster House.
We reported the on tionism in the last issue of Socialist Action, inAdams' presidential address. In this issue we look at other issues raised at the conference.
after the majority of campaigns especially against rights. The recent defeat of the divorce bill, and the ong delay in access to contraceptive facilities show the success the church has in maintaining its power.
The soçial conditions which allow the church teachings to prevail are a way changed. The most important tactor is the partition of Meanwhile thousands of women and men suffer from the lack of individual freedom which the church/state official morality denies them north and south.
Following last year's Ard Fheis, women Derry a working on abortion which drafted a new resolution that recognised the protook as its starting point Sinn Fein's declared objective of on: 'As secular we its law embody narticular relicion ology or We the Inor pooreo In the we that present rights beliefs of must not discussion all advancis i she this issue aimed at Sinn Fein's women's officer Sile Fanning overall understanding to that end. Non-directive pregnancy counselling em. bodying all choices should De freely avariaoie. was defeated: 117 for 212 against.
Daisy Mules, a leader of the trade union department speaking for this motion, said she considered the Ard Chomhairle posi tion to be 'disappointing - they had given it inadequate timewe resources thought. lead ine people of this question. Freedom of choice should apply to all areas of life.
She was supported by a number of women exthe life of who spoke as veterans of its maior campaigns. It included some who give day LU day counselling to prisoners' wives in the north.
Referring her republican beliefs, Belfast woman said that most people feel that life is Gerry Adams and Daisy Mules wait to speak in the Ard Fheis abortion debate; inset sacred but those here feel that other values are more important liberty for example. She felt people were using the 'sanctitv of lite' argument as a smokescreen to hide their real views which were that carrying through the was a punishDicklac ment. If women don't make the decisions over their own lives, who does decide? Doctors are given power over two lives.
A very small minority characterised abortion as 'murder' ana expressed total opposition to it.
Queuing with all , to speak along the other delegates Gerry Adams said that last year the Ard opposed the 'womans choice not because they're feminist but because it's identified with the abor. tion on demand' slogan tory character and appealed for people not to 'go too far, too fast'; to keer the discussion going and for others not to reject the basic policy.
Replying to the debate Rita O'Hare objected that some delegates had 'defended the leadership's proposals for the wrong Ours "progressive' stand she said. 'We will be taking a SLUl stand policies. We take positions because they are right and reasoned not because they'll win or lose votes In other discussions the Ard Fheis reaffirmed poncy on ine organisanor of childcare to encourage women to become active especially as candidates. It voted down a proposal to end the system of positive discrimination to women at the leadership level. On gays and lesbians it said:
'Sinn Fein publicly demands the de-criminalisation of homosexual acts between men, also calls • for full equal rights for lesbian women and gay men with their heterosexual counterparts.
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The leadership considered the policy adopted was contradictory; the party had not been prepared