Emma Watson has penned a powerful open letter in tribute to a woman who died from a miscarriage in Ireland because she was denied an abortion.
The British actress, 28, directly addressed Dr Savita Halappanavar, whose death in 2012 reignited calls for abortion to be legalised in the country.
In the letter published in Porter magazine, Emma described how the dentist’s family and friends had been ‘gracious and galvanizing’ in sharing her memory in the run-up to the referendum that saw the Eighth Amendment repealed in May.
She also described how watching a video of Savita, who died aged 31, dancing in a St Patrick’s Day parade had ‘moved [her] to tears’.
Emma ended the letter: ‘In your memory, and towards our liberation, we continue the fight for reproductive justice.’
Emma Watson (pictured at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party in January) has penned a powerful open letter in tribute to a dentist who died in Ireland from a miscarriage because she was denied an abortion
The British actress, 28, shared the open letter on her Instagram account, describing how it was a ‘great honour’ to pay respect to the legacy of Dr Savita Halappanavar
The actress shared her letter on Instagram, explaining: ‘[I]t was a great honour to be asked by @portermagazine to pay the deepest respect to the legacy of Dr Savita Halappanavar, whose death powered the determination of activists to change Irish abortion laws & fight for reproductive justice all over the world.
‘The planned new legislation has already been dubbed “Savita’s law” by campaigners out of respect for a woman who didn’t want to become the face of a movement, but simply wanted a procedure to save her life.’
Emma finished her post with a call by thanking those who ‘continue the fight for reproductive justice’
She said: ‘A note on [Savita’s] memorial in Dublin read, “Because you slept, many of us woke.”
Savita, 31, died aged 31 in 2012 from septic shock after she was denied abortion. Her death reignited calls for abortion to be legalised in Ireland
‘Yet from Argentina to Poland, restrictive abortion laws still punish and endanger girls, women and pregnant people. Free, safe, legal and local abortion care is needed across the globe.
She added: ‘In Savita’s memory, and on today’s 7th Annual March for Choice in Dublin, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all those who continue the fight for reproductive justice. ✊�� #mybodymychoice #freesafelegal#ARCMarch18’
Emma’s open letter features in the Winter Issue of Porter magazine
Emma has become known for her strong feminist beliefs, calling for gender equality in a speech at the UN back in 2016.
Following the Harvey Weinstein scandal in Hollywood, the former Harry Potter star donated £1million to the Justice and Equality Fund, a new fund for victims of sexual harassment.
Posting to Twitter, she wrote: ‘I stand with all the women who have been sexually harassed, and am awestruck by their bravery. This mistreatment of women has to stop. ‘
The actress also displayed a temporary ‘Time’s Up’ tattoo on her arm at the BAFTAs earlier this year in support of the movement.