In 2012 Savita Halappanavar died in Ireland after suffering a septic miscarriage. The 31-year-old Indian-born dentist was under medical supervision for seven days and could have survived had doctors been allowed to perform an abortion. In fact, an inquiry found that there were 13 opportunities to save her life but — due to Ireland’s recently-repealed-by-referendum Eighth Amendment — her 17-week-old fetus was entitled to the same rights as Halappanavar herself. So, an abortion was out of the question.
Halappanavar’s tragic, completely preventable death sparked Ireland’s renewed effort to repeal its dangerous anti-abortion law, culminating in the historic May referendum. By the end of the year the Irish government is expected to pass legislation that allows unrestricted abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If the mother’s health is at risk, abortions will be permitted up to 24 weeks. Nicknamed “Savita’s law,” the legislation isn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but it’s a start.
To honor Halappanavar and the activism and societal change she inspired, Emma Watson wrote a letter to her for Net-a-Porter. “When news of your death broke in 2012, the urgent call to action from Irish activists reverberated around the world — repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Irish Constitution,” the “Harry Potter” actresses recalls. “Time and again, when our local and global communities collectively mourn a tragic death due to social injustice, we pay tribute, mobilize, and proclaim: rest in power. A promise to the departed and a rallying call to society, we chant: never again.”
While Watson acknowledges that activism is often inspired by incredible injustice, she also notes that it doesn’t often lead to a tangible change as monumental as Ireland’s referendum. “But it is rare that justice truly prevails for those whose deaths come to symbolize structural inequality. Rarer still is a historic feminist victory that emboldens the fight for reproductive justice everywhere,” she writes.
Watson’s letter also stresses that Ireland was not the only nation with medieval laws governing a woman’s bodily autonomy. She closes her message by calling on countries all over the world to remember Halappanavar and recognize that her situation could be repeated if reproductive rights aren’t a political priority. If we — all people, everywhere — want to avoid needless, devastating deaths, we must legalize and de-stigmatize abortion across the globe. “From Argentina to Poland, restrictive abortion laws punish and endanger girls, women, and pregnant people,” Watson reminds us. “In your memory, [Savita,] and towards our liberation, we continue the fight for reproductive justice.”
In a personal response to Ireland’s referendum of the Eighth Amendment, Watson stated, “People needing abortions in Ireland will continue to be forced to travel to England, or access abortion pills online, until legislation is passed,” and encouraged donations to Abortion Support Network (UK/IE) and Women Help Women (Global).
Since the “Harry Potter” franchise wrapped up in 2011, Watson has appeared in films such as “The Bling Ring,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” and the live-action remake of “Beauty and the Beast.” Next, she’s attached to star as eldest sister Meg March in Greta Gerwig’s big screen adaptation of “Little Women.”
Watson has been become an active feminist in the past few years. She has been an instrumental part of revamping BFI and BAFTA’s bullying and sexual harassment policies as well as development of the UK Justice and Equality Fund. In 2014 she launched the global gender equality campaign HeForShe at the UN.
Head over to Net-a-Porter to read Watson’s full letter.
