<img width="1024" height="575" src="https://cms.qz.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/RTR32VDM-e1558877917822.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1024" class="attachment-medium_10 size-medium_10 wp-post-image" alt="Ireland-referendum-divorce-2019" /><p>The Irish overwhelmingly voted in favor of changing the country&#8217;s archaic divorce laws, which currently require a four-year waiting period. <a href="https://www.referendum.ie/current-referendum/">More than 82%</a> of voters supported changing the constitution to lower the waiting time, and also to recognize foreign divorces. It was the <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-marriage-referendum-irish-voters-back-loosening-divorce-laws/">largest margin of victory</a> for a referendum since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which 95% of voters backed.</p>
<p>The government said it would introduce legislation to change the laws and has previously mentioned a two-year waiting time instead.</p>
<p>The referendum comes as part of a broader push to liberalize Ireland&#8217;s social policies. Divorce was only legalized in 1995 and by a razor-thin margin (50.2% to 49.7%). But change, when it comes, can come quickly: In 2015, 62% of voters endorsed legalizing <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32858501">same-sex marriage</a>, and last year, 66%  backed <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44256152">repealing Ireland&#8217;s abortion ban</a>.</p>
<p>The results of the latest divorce referendum were so widely anticipated that there was little celebration. &#8220;This was not about rocking the system, it was about humanizing the system,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/26/ireland-votes-to-liberalise-divorce-laws-after-referendum">said Josepha Madigan</a>, the culture minister, who led the government’s referendum campaign. About half of the Irish electorate cast votes, with the “yes” (or, tá) vote winning in all 31 constituencies.</p>
<p>While that&#8217;s progress for a country with deep Catholic roots, a two-year waiting period would still make divorce difficult. Places like the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-divorce-law-to-end-the-blame-game">UK (2019)</a> and <a href="https://www.hg.org/divorce-law-newyork.html">New York state (2010)</a> have moved to a no-fault divorce framework in which couples do not have to provide a &#8220;fact&#8221; or reason for divorcing, instead relying on the fact that it&#8217;s just not working. In the UK, prior to the changes, one spouse had to allege adultery or unreasonable behavior for the proceedings to start; the change means one or both parties can claim the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The move was also intended to stop one partner from blocking a divorce if the other one wants it.</p>
<p>At the time of the proposed UK changes, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-divorce-law-to-end-the-blame-game">Justice Secretary David Gauke</a> said it would benefit kids: &#8220;Hostility and conflict between parents leave their mark on children and can damage their life chances,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>It seems the changes in all countries might benefit the adults, too.</p>