Irish protesters skip work, lectures to call for abortion law repeal

Campaigners stage a protest to demand more liberal abortion laws, in Dublin, Ireland March 8, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Protesters calling for a repeal of Ireland's strict abortion laws brought traffic in Dublin's city centre to a standstill as supporters across the country were encouraged to strike, skip lectures and march on their lunch break on Wednesday.

Rules on terminating a pregnancy in once stridently Catholic Ireland are among the world's most restrictive and thousands of Irish women travel abroad, mostly to England, for abortions each year. A referendum on widening access could be held if a citizens' assembly set up by the government recommends it in a decision expected next month.