Belfast City Council votes to light City Hall for abortion rights day

Belfast City Council has voted to illuminate Belfast City Hall in green on September 28 to mark ‘International Safe Abortion Day’. The decision followed a request from the National Women’s Council of Ireland and a proposal from the Alliance Party. The measure passed with an 11 to 3 vote, supported by Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party, the SDLP, and the Green Party, while the DUP, UUP, and TUV voted against it.

The decision has faced significant opposition from pro-life groups. An organization called Precious Life organized a petition signed by approximately 20,000 people calling for the cancellation of the illumination, arguing that public resources should not be used to promote abortion. Pro-life advocates, including members of the Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland and Both Lives, expressed dismay, stating that the City Hall should serve as a civic symbol for the whole community rather than a platform for a contested moral issue.

Protests were held outside City Hall during the vote. Precious Life director Bernadette Smyth described the decision as a “profound insult” to citizens, claiming the council ignored overwhelming public opposition.