It’s time to change Article 41.3 of the Constitution.

One Family believes in an Ireland where every family is cherished equally, and enjoys the social, financial and legal equality to create their own positive future.  For 51 years, we have campaigned for the Constitution to be expanded to give rights and protection to all family forms; currently, the Constitution only recognises the married family.  We are hopefully on the verge of achieving a vote on this change with the referendum on family, care and equality due to take place in November. The final wording of the referendum questions have not been finalised, but we know there is a commitment from Government to ensure that all families receive Constitutional protection. We need your support the ensure Government keep to their commitments and to help us to campaign in the referendum.

Why now and why it matters:

  • The Constitution is currently out of step with the reality of family life in Ireland as well as with our social policy, practice and legislation. Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights provides possible alternative wording in a review of the family. This would permit legislation and case law to determine how different families and family members would be treated and impediments to equality would be removed rather than automatic equality being guaranteed. This could potentially have benefits for many households and family arrangements.
  • Census statistics and Growing Up in Ireland data show us the rich diversity of family life in Ireland today.  One in three children in Ireland are born to parents not yet married to each other; one‐in‐three families do not conform to the traditional model of a married couple in their first marriage; and one in five children live in one-parent families.
  • Following the publication of the Mother and Baby Home Commission Report which detailed the horrific abuse, incarceration and stigmatisation of “unmarried mothers”, there is a unique opportunity to let unmarried families know they are respected and included in our society.
  • The recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Gender Equality  and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Gender Equality provide a clear pathway for our political representatives to deliver greater gender equality and constitutional protection for all non-marital families.
  • As a referendum in now pencilled in for November now is a once in a generation to give all families the equality they deserve.

UN International Day of Families – a call to action

On UN International Day of Families, Monday May 15, we are calling for change to Article  41.3 of the Constitution on the definition of the family.

How you can help?

The referendum on Family, Care and Equality was announced by the Taoiseach in March, and is due to take place in November. The final wording of the referendum questions haven’t been completed yet, but we know there is a commitment from Government to ensure that all families receive Constitutional protection. One Family is working hard with other civil society organisations to get ready for this referendum and we would appreciate your support to make Ireland more inclusive. To sign up click:  here.

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Background resources

Legal Opinion:

UN International Day of Families: