THIS IS MY BODY!

We are delighted to share our video recording of the conversation we had with the indefatigable Bernadette McAliskey for International Women’s Day 2023. Filmed by the Creative Workers Co-Operative in Belfast in front of a packed audience at Queen's University Belfast.

There couldn’t have been a better or more urgently needed reminder to be mindful of the care for the whole movement and who we include. She gives us a brief history of sexual liberation, advice on maintaining a movement, on holding the line and an immaculate lesson in holding a room of hundreds of people in the palm of her hand! Alliance for Choice (AfC) believes everyone who needs an abortion should have free, safe and legal access in their own country, without stigma; set up in 1996, we campaign for barrier free access to abortion, comprehensive, unbiased sex education for young people and an end to the harassment of people using reproductive health services.

Thanks to Naomi Connor and John Barry for co-ordination.

Bernadette McAliskey in conversation with Alliance for Choice: This Is My Body

The indefatigable Bernadette McAliskey talking about bodily autonomy in front of a live audience with Emma Campbell from Alliance for Choice Belfast, in Queen's University Belfast, Thursday 20th October 2022.

She gives us a brief history of sexual liberation, advice on maintaining a movement, on holding the line and an immaculate lesson in holding a room of hundreds of people in the palm of her hand!

Alliance for Choice (AfC) believes everyone who needs an abortion should have free, safe and legal access in their own country, without stigma; set up in 1996, we campaign for barrier free access to abortion, comprehensive, unbiased sex education for young people and an end to the harassment of people using reproductive health services.

Body Politic

Here NI and Alliance for Choice offer a selection of queer and feminist short films around the politicisation of our bodies. All films are free to view and there will be time for discussion.

Dr Alyson Hunter, Foetal Medicine Specialist, Northern Ireland

Dr. Hunter talks about the importance of ensuring that severe and not just fatal foetal abnormalities can be treated within NI. She talks about patients she has not been able to help before the law changed and how heartbreaking it was for all involved.

Filmed by https://www.creativeworkerscooperative.com/ for Alliance for Choice

One man can make abortion care less dangerous for people in NI

We need Health Minister Robin Swann to allow telemedicine today!

It's to only way to keep patients and healthcare workers safe and still treat people with pregnancies they can't continue - sign our petition to help us get the treatment we need.

_4284_ / I'm A Life

The powerful music video to Isobel Anderson's song _4284_ / Im A Life in collaboration with Alliance For Choice. Find out more about the I'm A Life project at https://imalife.co.uk Directed by Dave Neale / Wild Stag Studios: https://wildstagstudio.com/ Donate to Alliance For Choice: http://www.alliance4choice.com/ Song written and performed by Isobel Anderson Violin: Ruby Colley Produced by Isobel Anderson & Michael Mormecha SIGN UP FOR UPDATES: https://www.isobelanderson.com/contact DOWNLOADS & MERCH: https://isobelanderson.bandcamp.com/ W: https://www.isobelanderson.com/ F: https://www.facebook.com/isobelanders... T: https://twitter.com/isobelanderson_ I: https://www.instagram.com/MUSIC_BY_IS...

A4C 2019 round-up

Look at what we did (some highlights anyway)!

Thanks for a stonking year of support; information sharing, amplifying, fundraising, emailing, petitioning, lobbying, consultation submission guiding, Inquiry evidence giving, marching, chanting, making, baking, running, quizzing, clothes swapping, pills delivering, researching, publishing, collaborating, music making, podcast recording, comedy gigging, merch buying and wearing, ally-building, workshopping, rocking, karaoke-ing, conference presenting, interview giving, befriending, tweeting, hoping and DECRIMINALISING!

#TheNorthisNow #AbortionRightsNI #FreeSafeLegalLocal

The NI Bill July 2019

We got through the dabate in the Lords late last night but the vote is on Wednesay 17th July 2019 then Thursday in the Commons again, so stick around with us to find out what's happening #NIBill #NowforNI #TheNorthisNext #AbortionRIghtsNI

Northern Ireland needs you to badger your MP

Westminster will be debating whether to reform abortion law & equal marriage in Northern Ireland today and tomorrow. Tell your MP to support the amendments by turning up and standing up for equality.

On Tuesday 9th July, MPs will have a chance to vote on two amendments regarding abortion in Northern Ireland.

https://nowforni.uk/email/

#nowforni #thenorthisnext #abortionrightsni

The Round-Up Friday 7th December 2018

The Round-Up: Friday 7th December 2018
The Political Studies Association (PSA) 17th Annual Awards have given Alliance for Choice the award for “Campaigners of the Year”.

Co-Chairs Kellie and Emma talk about the year in abortion rights in Northern Ireland, the abortion pills and its feminist revolution as well as the difficulties campaigning in Westminster

afc 2018

See what we got up to in 2018

In Focus: Ann Rossiter

Ann Rossiter talks to Kellie O'Dowd about her work supporting women who travelled to London seeking abortions from the 1970s.

TFY Solidarity Campaign

The campaign to win votes in border towns

20 Stories High & Contact present... "I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. Trip..." - NATIONAL TOUR

Get Involved @ the MAC, Belfast

20 Stories High & Contact present... "I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. Trip..." - NATIONAL TOUR

CLICK HERE FOR THE TRAILER! https://youtu.be/1AWTy2dQt5Q

POST SHOW JAM EVENT

We'll be taking over The Mac with poetry, spoken word, beat-boxing... anything goes! To sign up,

e-mail Yazmin@20storieshigh.org.uk

22 February 2017, after 8pm show

POST SHOW DISCUSSION

A chance to ask the cast and invited guests questions about the show, and how and why it was put together. Panellists include representatives from Education and Sexual Health organisations.

23 February 2017, after 8pm show

About the Show

With 1 in 3 women in the U.K having had an abortion “I told my mum I was going on an R.E. trip…” explores what seems to be one of society's last taboos. A multi-talented young female ensemble use verbatim voices, live music, beats and rhyme to portray the stories of real women who’ve experienced pregnancy and abortion. This funny, frank, and moving new play is about as far from a worthy sexual health lecture as is imaginable.

The show is written and directed by Julia Samuels drawing on over 50 interviews with young women, boyfriends, parents, doctors and campaigners.

Suitable for ages 13+

the MAC, Belfast

22 - 24 February 2017, 8pm

With local events 22 & 23 Feb

Men Talk About Abortion Access in Northern Ireland #alliesforchoice

For the Global Day of Decriminalisation of Abortion, September 28th, Alliance for Choice made this video where we asked men about being #alliesforchoice in our campaign for free safe and legal abortion #trustwomen

https://vimeo.com/235954953

TAKE THE BOAT - Documentary

Every year, it is estimated that 5,000 women travel from Ireland to the UK to access abortion services. In conversation, people often say they "take the boat". Gillian, Vanessa, Melisa, Gerry and Gaye talk about this taboo travel.

Narrated by Catherine Deneuve

Directors : Camille Hamet and Séréna Robin
Cinematographer : Mark Sheridan
Original music : Clément Danais
Editing : Jérémy Leroux
Producer : Jan Vasak

Day For Night Production

Year of production : 2015

#StepIntoOurShoes Northern Ireland - Sept 28 Safe Abortion Day

This video is part of a global campaign “Step Into Our Stories, Step Into Our Shoes” for access to safe and legal abortion by Love Matters in partnership with WGNRR.

This story was drawn from The Abortion Diary. To listen to Rosa's story in full, visit http://theabortiondiary.com/felt-like-criminal/

Access to abortion in Northern Ireland is highly restricted. Because of this, more than 1,000 women each year travel from Northern Ireland to other parts of the United Kingdom in order to have an abortion, for which they would have to pay privately for the procedure.

Share and Like this video if you support access to safe and legal abortion as a human right.

Let's challenge abortion stigma and gender stereotypes!

To find out more about September 28 Global Day of Action
International Safe Abortion Day, go to http://www.september28.org 
#StepintoOurShoes 
#Sept28
#TrustWomen

Reclaim the Agenda : Episode 08 - Abortion

Discussion show on NVTV in association with Reclaim the Agenda.

Striving for equality in a progressive world, Reclaim the Agenda is a collective of women sector representatives, grassroots feminist activists, trade union activists and interested individuals who campaign on 6 key themes;
1. To live free from poverty
2. To live free from discrimination
3. To have healthcare services that meet our particular needs
4. To live our lives free from domestic and sexual violence and abuse
5. To live in a society where women are equally represented as decision     makers
6. To have access to good, affordable and flexible childcare provision

NVTV is available on Freeview 8 and Virgin 159 in the Belfast area.
NVTV is available to view on Today's Ireland in USA.

Emma Campbell of Alliance for Choice speaking at March4Choice 2015

Alliance for Choice is an organisation that campaigns for the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. It is made up of women and men, from both Catholic and Protestant communities in the North of Ireland, who want to see equality and self-determination for women here. Alliance for Choice was set up in 1996, emerging from the Women’s Right to Choose Group, to encourage the incoming Labour government to implement Labour Party policy to extend the Act.

Much of our work has been about making heard the voices of the tens of thousands of women from NI who have had abortions in England and elsewhere since 1967 – thereby exposing the hypocrisy of the politicians who say there is “no demand for abortion rights” in NI.
 

Ann Rossiter Abortion Story

Published on Nov 16, 2012

'Making a Holy Show of Myself', a sketch on abortion (or the lack of it) on the island of Ireland.

It is to the island of Ireland's shame that in the 21st century it continues to abandon half its population to a reliance on crossing the Irish Sea to Britain and elsewhere to have an abortion. It is to Ireland's shame that not only is the exercise of women's reproductive rights denied them on their own turf, but that a culture of silence is rigorously enforced under pressure from church, state, family and society at large. Irish women's abortions on foreign soil thus become the dark secret of the individual woman engendering a deep sense of shame and a fear of retribution.

How to break this silence has been a major preoccupation of Irish feminists at home and abroad. I've been an outspoken pro-choice activist for half a century after my experience of a back-street abortion in London before the British 1967 Abortion Act became law. Along with many others I've been a member of the Irish Women's Abortion Support Group (IWASG) and volunteer in it successor, the Abortion Support Network (ASN) based in London, both groups helping Irish abortion seekers coming to Britain. With so many others I've pounded the pavements picketing and demonstrating, composed countless letters and petitions to people in high places, written journal essays and articles and given talks in colleges and to women's groups and political organisations, all to no avail. Northern Ireland and the Republic are still abortion-free zones!

As my years progress and my impatience deepens I've resorted, not only to recounting the story of my own back-street abortion on radio and TV, but to including it in my book, 'Ireland's Hidden Diaspora: the abortion trail and the making of a London-Irish underground, 1980-2000'. More recently I hit on the idea of doing a comedy sketch on the silences surround abortion in Ireland. 'Making a Holy Show of Myself: an Abortion Monologue' is the result of my efforts."

MythCrashers: The Abortion Episode!

Made by Lady Parts Justice League
The LPJL #MythCrashers met with Dr. Willie Parker to get the facts straight about abortion. Now let's urge the new HHS team to consult real doctors too! (*cough* Charmaine Yoest, HHS Secretary Tom Price, M.D., Teresa Manning *cough*) Sources: https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2013/0... https://prochoice.org/wp-content/uplo... https://www.ansirh.org/sites/default/...

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