The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has said that it is to conduct a “review” of Ireland’s abortion law and it is inviting submissions.

Submissions must be sent by next Thursday.

The Commission says in its document inviting submissions that it will “review the relevant human rights that pertain in situations of pregnancy where there is a risk to life”.

It says: “The ‘human rights’ concerned include the rights protected under Article 40 of the Constitution and under the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms as set out in A,B, and C v Ireland.”

It says that it will make recommendations to the Government based on its review.  

It adds that it will “engage with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe” under Council of Europe rules which allow the Committe to consider submissions from non-governmental organisations or nation human rights institutions with regard to the execution of judgements by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).  

The review is set to examine a number of issues, including whether the options put forward by the Government’s Expert Group would meet Ireland’s obligations under the ECHR’s ruling in the A,B and C v Ireland case and whether the rights of the unborn under 40.3.3 can be secured under the options proposed by that group.

The review will also consider whether the Expert Group recommendations, if implemented, would leave Ireland vulnerable to challenges under international human rights law.

The Commission has also invited interested individuals or organisations to submit “short, succinct submissions to inform its review”.

The submissions should address the matters being considered in the review, be typewritten and no longer than 10 pages.

The deadline for submissions is Thursday 10th January 2013, by post or by email at [email protected] with the subject line “right to life review”.