17th November 2016

Club Rooms 3 and 4, Queen's University Student's Union, Belfast

You are cordially invited to

“Should Abortion be Decriminalised in Northern Ireland?”

A debate on whether or not abortion should be legalised in cases of rape and incest or when an unborn child has been diagnosed with a life-limiting disability in Northern Ireland

BETWEEN

Rebecca Kiessling (Save the 1)

AND

Les Allamby (NI Human Rights Commission)

This event is bringing together for the first time ever two renowned individuals who appeal to audiences everywhere with their captivating presence and persuasive arguments. Both speakers bring a unique voice to this contentious and pressing question.  

Mrs Rebecca Kiessling is a family law attorney from Michigan with a moving and powerful life story. Rebecca was adopted nearly from birth. When she turned eighteen she learned that she had been conceived in rape. She is the National Spokeswoman for Personhood USA and Founder and Director of Save The 1, a pro-life organisation in the United States which campaigns for the protection of every unborn child in law and society, “without exception, without compromise”.

Mrs Kiessling avows that she owes her life to the legislators who ensured that abortion was illegal in Michigan at the time she was conceived. Rebecca will be arguing against the legalisation of abortion in the above cases. 

Mr Les Allamby is a solicitor and former director of the Law Centre in Northern Ireland. He is the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the organisation which brought an unprecedented legal challenge against the Department of Justice in an attempt to change the law to allow abortion in cases of rape and incest and when an unborn has been diagnosed with a “serious” disability in Northern Ireland.

Mr Allamby will explore the human rights legal basis on which the Commission embarked on this legal challenge.

This debate is an unrivalled opportunity for students, university staff, campaigners on both sides of the debate, journalists and the wider public to gain an invaluable insight into the biggest human rights issue of our day.

The debate is organised by Precious Life and scheduled to take place at Club Room 3 and 4, Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union on Thursday 17th November 2016 from 7.00pm until 8.30pm.