Thread by @MarieOConnor1

Earlier this week, Ireland misled the UN Human Rights Committee again re symphysiotomies @UNGeneva @UNHumanRightsEU @HeleneTigroudja @MarciaVJKRAN1 @_IHREC @AmnestyIreland @ICCLtweet

Forced symphysiotomy was a policy

From 1944-1984

1/

Symphysiotomy was not done to save lives.

Doctors' personal belief systems drove the practice.
It was done as a preferred alternative to

Caesarean section which led to birth control which was prohibited by Rome

2/

The surgery was done for preference in mid labour
Doctors relied on the downward pressure of the head to further open the severed symphysis. Vaginal birth was enforced, despite her partially collapsed pelvis.

3/

Informed consent to medical intervention was a requirement during the relevant period.

The practice was therefore illegal, because doctors failed to elicit women's consent prior to surgery 4/

Despite this, there has been no inquiry into these violations.

Perpetrators have been protected.

Sites of symphysiotomy have been enabled to keep their records of the surgery closed to external examination. 5/

A 'history' of symphysiotomy has been written (and endorsed by government) under terms that precluded the taking of survivor testimony.

Ireland continues to insist that no wrongdoing has been committed. 6/

Evidence

Of the magnitude of these violations

has now been submitted

We hope the #UNHumanRights Committee

will given this new evidence the consideration it merits

We share their concern about #impunity

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