Argentina’s President Alberto
Fernández has said he will send a bill to legalize abortion to Congress within
the next 10 days.
Fernández has said he will send a bill to legalize abortion to Congress within
the next 10 days.
Mr Fernández, who was sworn in as president in December , has
previously described abortion as “a matter of public health”.
previously described abortion as “a matter of public health”.
In Argentina, abortion is allowed only in cases of rape, or if
the mother’s health is in danger.
the mother’s health is in danger.
It is largely prohibited across Latin America, except in
restricted cases.
restricted cases.
If the bill is passed, Argentina will become the largest country
in the region to legalize abortion.
in the region to legalize abortion.
“Abortion happens, it’s a fact,” the president said in
his first annual address to Congress.
his first annual address to Congress.
“A state should protect citizens in general and women in
particular. And in the 21st Century, every society needs to respect the
individual choice of its members to decide freely about their bodies.”
particular. And in the 21st Century, every society needs to respect the
individual choice of its members to decide freely about their bodies.”
Mr Fernández also promised to introduce a program to improve
sex education.
sex education.
previous attempt to
change the law in Argentina, where the population is overwhelmingly Roman
Catholic, failed.
change the law in Argentina, where the population is overwhelmingly Roman
Catholic, failed.
In 2018, a bill to legalize abortion within the first 14 weeks
of pregnancy was narrowly approved by Congress, but was later rejected by the
country’s Senate.
of pregnancy was narrowly approved by Congress, but was later rejected by the
country’s Senate.
Unlike last time, however, the country’s president is behind the
bill.
bill.
