Ipas > Latin American news round-up

Latin American news round-up

June 14, 2007

With the recent legalization of abortion in Mexico City, Latin America continues to be at the forefront of the global debate for sexual and reproductive rights.

Photo courtesy of Julia Etchart, Panos Pictures.

With the recent legalization of abortion in Mexico City, Latin America continues to be at the forefront of the global debate for sexual and reproductive rights. The following regional news update highlights recent stories that are likely to continue making headlines.

Argentina

On May 28, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, an alliance of organizations and activists, including women’s and human right’s groups, trade unions, political parties and local personalities, presented Congress with a draft law for the legalization of abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy.
Under the draft law, whose authors studied abortion legislation in other countries, all women would have the right to abortion before the 12th week of pregnancy and with services available free of charge within the public health system.

The proposed legislation would also grant the right to abortion after the first trimester to rape victims, women found to be carrying a severely malformed fetus, or when the life or health of the woman is endangered. In no case would prior judicial authorization be required, only the patient's written consent.

"Abortion - No longer a taboo subject," IPS

Bolivia

The Constituent Assembly’s Committee on Rights, Duties and Guarantees set forth a proposal to protect the right to life from the moment of conception in the new constitution, triggering debate on the right of women, especially rape victims, to terminate a pregnancy.
A recent study reports that in Bolivia rapes account for 64 percent of all documented physical attacks on women, and that more than half of all rape cases the victims are underage girls.
Lawyer Samuel Zenteno told Inter Press Service that if the constituent assembly approves the clause on the right to life from the moment of conception, the law allowing legal abortion in case of rape or threats to the health or life of the woman would have to be specifically addressed in law.

"The lack of codification of the law creates a legal vacuum, giving rise to interpretations that vary from judge to judge. Under these circumstances, a woman who is raped is doubly victimized, because besides the sexual abuse she has suffered, she has to face distressing administrative and legal procedures.”

"Safe abortion nearly impossible even in cases of rape," IPS

Brazil

President Luiz Ignacio Lula de Silva announced a new program to subsidize birth control pills in an effort to decrease unwanted pregnancies.
Brazil already provides free condoms and contraception at government-run pharmacies, but many poor and rural people do not use those pharmacies. The new plan would offer the pills at significantly reduced prices at the private drug stores. According to government estimates, the number of stores offering the pills would rise to 10,000 and, when the program is fully underway, more than 50 million packages of birth control pills would be distributed each year.

"Brazil to subsidize birth control pills," CNN.com

Nicaragua

On June 12th, women’s and civil rights groups took to the streets of Managua demanding legal restitution of therapeutic abortion. Demonstrators gathered outside the Supreme Court of Justice, demanding a verdict on an appeal lodged against the abolition of abortion in April.

In October, the government outlawed abortion under any circumstance, including when the pregnancy may threaten a woman’s life.

"Nicas demand approval of abortion again," Prensa Latina

Uruguay

Two government ministers have joined forces with writers and musicians on an Internet campaign to legalize abortion after a 20-year-old woman was criminally charged for terminating a pregnancy.
Authorities charged the woman last month after she sought treatment in a public hospital for injuries related to the illegal procedure. She remains free while her case is pending. Three women involved in performing the abortion have been jailed while they await trial, according to local media.
About 3,500 people have signed the petition at www.despenalizar.blogspot.com since June 1, including the interior and social development ministers. Writer Eduardo Galeano and singer Jaime Roos are among the artists who have signed.

"Uruguayans start online drive to legalize abortion," Reuters AlertNet

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258