BELFAST City Council will be lit up to mark International Safe Abortion Day later this month after it was approved despite major division amongst councillors.
Council had received a request from the National Women’s Council of Ireland for the illumination of City Hall in the colour green to mark International Safe Abortion Day on September 28. At Committee last month, it was approved by 11 votes to three.
Before Tuesday night's full Council meeting, pro-life campaigners held a protest outside Belfast City Hall.
Raising the issue in the Chamber, DUP Councillor Tracy Kelly proposed overturning the Committee decision.
"Whilst my party is abundantly clear that we are a pro-life party and women need support, we also believe that the unborn child has a value and it deserves protection," she said. "What exactly do we mean by a safe abortion?
"We believe that lighting Belfast City Hall up sends a message of endorsement on an issue that remains deeply contested. Belfast is known for being a divided city and this is an issue that certainly divides.
"We should not be lighting up a civic building for one side of such a sensitive debate.
DUP Councillor Sarah Bunting said the issue was "deeply personal".
"As a mother who has endured the heartbreak of losing two children through miscarriage I know the pain of losing a child you already loved and had hopes and dreams for but would not be coming home," she said.
"That experience definitely shapes how I feel about this proposal. We are being asked to illuminate Belfast City Hall for International Safe Abortion Day but abortion is never safe for the unborn child.
Green Party councillor Áine Groogan said it was important to highlight safe and accessible abortion.
"I am a very proud pro-choice woman. Stigma around abortion is what we are trying to address with this motion," she said.
"Abortion needs to be safe, legal and accessible. I think it is entirely right that Belfast City Hall should be lit up for International Safe Abortion Day."
Alliance Councillor Jenna Maghie also spoke of her heartbreaking experiences.
"My journey to my two beautiful girls came after three miscarraiges to which I lost four babies. Two of those miscarriages required me to take the abortion pill three times.
"It strikes fear into my soul that women will die because they do not have access to that.
"Supporting safe abortion does not diminish my experience. I support the fact that women should have access to the safe healthcare that they need."
Councillors were informed that Belfast City Council had received 750 email complaints about the proposal and of an online petition with over 18,000 signatures.
A vote to reverse the Committee decision was lost with 18 votes for and 36 against.
