Thousands of women in Latin America demonstrated on Thursday for the decriminalization and legalization of abortion, in a region where they face lack of protection and fear of losing rights.
In Brazil, marches were held in the main cities of the country, with the largest protest in São Paulo, in defense of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy (IVG) and legislation that defines abortion as a public health problem, at a time when There is an intense debate on the subject.
The controversy over abortion gained special relevance in the country, after the president of the Federal Supreme Court, Rosa Weber, voted in favor of legalization up to 12 weeks of gestation, shortly before retiring.
This vote pits the Supreme Court, which is studying decriminalization, against conservative deputies, who intend to completely ban abortion.
The latter, linked mainly to the evangelical churches and the extreme right led by former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, decided to call a referendum on the prohibition of abortion, and most polls indicate that more than half of the population is against of practice.
In El Salvador, activists denounced the total criminalization of IVG as the “greatest expression of violence” against women, who can be accused of aggravated homicide and sentenced to 30 years in prison, even in cases of unintentional abortions.
On this occasion, the “Girls and Non-Mothers” initiative was presented, which calls for the interruption of pregnancy in cases of sexual violence against girls under 18 years of age.
In Santiago, Chile, hundreds of women defended the risky abortion law in the face of the current constitutional proposal, promoted by the Republican Party, which seeks to repeal the current legislation in the country.
The Chilean Minister of Women and Gender Equality, Antonia Orellana, highlighted that the repeal of the three causes of abortion provided for in the law – risk for the mother, fetal inviability and rape – will constitute a “serious setback in sexual life and reproductive rights”.
In Argentina, thousands of women marched against proposals that could represent a setback in the right to abortion, achieved two years ago.
With slogans such as “To confront fascism, more feminism,” the activists rejected the proposals of conservative candidates for the country’s presidency, such as those of Javier Milei, leader of the polls, who threatened to abolish institutions such as the Ministry of Women. Gender and Diversity, if he wins the presidential elections, and call a referendum on the abortion law.
The capital of Ecuador was the scene of a new mobilization for a “free, legal and safe abortion.”
At the protest, the president of the Federation of Secondary Students of Ecuador, Dayana Basantes, criticized the government for not providing information about abortion in cases of rape, after the historic decriminalization last year.
Basantes also criticized several conditions introduced into the law by the conservative president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, for access to abortion in cases of rape, with requirements such as having filed a prior complaint, undergoing an IVG in the first 12 weeks, instead of The exeption. 18 weeks in some cases.
Also in Caracas, almost a hundred protesters demanded, before the Venezuelan parliament, the legalization of abortion, punishable in the Penal Code.
Source: TSF
