Argentina abortion: Senate defeats bill soon after polarising debate

Argentina’s senate has rejected a bill which would have legalised abortion in the initial 14 weeks of pregnancy.

Following a marathon debate, 38 senators voted against it and 31 in favour. Its defeat signifies lawmakers have to wait till next year to resubmit legislation.

Presently abortion is permitted in Argentina only in circumstances of rape, or if the mother’s well being is in danger.

Demonstrators on both sides of the debate rallied outside parliament as voting took place.

• No going back in Argentina’s abortion debate
• The girls protesting in the Argentina abortion debate

Anti-abortion activists have been jubilant. “What this vote showed is that Argentina is nevertheless a country that represents family members values,” a single told the Reuters news agency.

Pro-selection campaigners say they are not providing up. Some started fires and lobbed missiles at police after the vote.

Pro-choice campaigners have for years tried to get bills passed in Argentina, exactly where the population is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.

Their efforts gained new impetus when President Mauricio Macri – who opposes abortion – known as on Congress to consider a vote on it, and it narrowly passed in the reduce home.

For the bill’s advocates, legalising abortion is a matter of public wellness, with 43 females thought to have died last year following getting abortions.

The debate in the Senate lasted more than 16 hours.

Former President Cristina Fern&aacutendez de Kirchner, who is now a senator and who had refused to back abortion while president, supported the bill, saying her mind was changed by the thousands who took to the streets.

There are 42 males in the Argentine senate and 30 women. Amongst the girls the vote was evenly split even though a majority of men voted against.

Uruguay and Cuba are the only Latin American nations to have completely decriminalised abortion.

“This law does not obligate, nor does it suggest anybody have an abortion. The only factor this law does is defend the correct to pick.” Norma Durango, from the opposition Peronist celebration

“The message that we wanted to put across is that abortion equals social failure. For a lady to resort to it, a lot of other issues require to have failed 1st.” Camila Duro of the anti-abortion non-governmental organisation Frente Joven

“Females carry out abortions with criminalisation or with no it.” Sabrina Cartabia Groba, pro-decision lawyer and campaigner

“Abortion often kills a youngster and it does not resolve the woman’s problem. We believe that this is by no means the remedy. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy abortion is never ever the solution. There are often other options.” Maria Castillo, who campaigned outdoors parliament

 

Tags: featured

Category: Community, Features