Madam, - The resolution passed last week by the Council of Europe calling for the decriminalisation of abortion everywhere gives a loud and clear message to this State: Ireland's head-in-the-sand approach to abortion is just not up to international human rights standards.
It is inexcusable that the Irish State exports women abroad, compounding the trauma of their crisis pregnancies. It is unacceptable that the Irish State creates a situation where women who cannot leave Ireland must take risks with their health and their lives in order to procure an abortion. And it is indefensible that the State treats abortion as a criminal offence.
How long will it take Ireland, the embarrassing slow-learner of Europe, to catch up in terms of social policy and human rights? - Yours, etc,
LOUISE CAFFREY, Smithfield Market, Dublin 7.
Madam, - It was with dismay that I learned from your edition of April 17th that the Council of Europe had voted to call on all its 47 member-states to recognise the taking of unborn human life as a "right". There is no "right" to take a human life. Anywhere. Morally or legally.
The Council of Europe should, on the contrary, be seeking ways of upholding the rights, not only of women, but of the millions of people in Europe who are unable to express their own views, in particular unborn children. Abortion is the most widespead of all abuses of human rights, particularly in Europe. - Yours, etc,
DONAL O'DRISCOLL, Dargle Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.