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Argentina faces historic vote on legalizing abortion
BUENOS AIRES, June 13, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Lawmakers in Pope Francis’ native
Argentina vote Wednesday on legalizing abortion, which if passed, would make
it the most populous country in South America to allow women to terminate
pregnancies.
The debate has divided Argentinian society. Though it has shed some of its
traditionalism by pioneering the legalization of gay marriage in Latin
America, it remains strongly influenced by the Catholic Church.
The Chamber of Deputies is deeply divided over the issue and after weeks
of bitter debate, the result of Wednesday night’s vote is far from certain.
Of the Chamber’s 257 deputies, 109 are expected to vote in favor of the
bill, 117 against, with the remaining 29 undecided lawmakers casting the
decisive votes in the lower house.
“Today we see an almost a neck-and-neck vote, with a slight advantage for
those against the bill,” said Martin Maquieyra of President Mauricio Macri’s
ruling Cambiemos party, who will vote against.
Pro- and anti-abortion groups have called for demonstrations outside
Congress on Wednesday.
As in most Latin American countries, abortion is illegal in Argentina,
except in cases of rape or when the life or health of the woman is at risk.
The new bill would decriminalize abortion during the first 14 weeks of
pregnancy, and even afterwards in cases where the fetus suffers from
conditions not compatible with life outside the womb.
If passed, the bill would then go before the Senate, where it faces an
uphill battle to become law. Analysts point out that more senators have
spoken out against the bill than in its favor.
Macri, who has come out strongly against abortion, has asked lawmakers to
vote with their conscience, and said he would not veto the bill if passed.
“We hope that the respect is maintained, we are all Argentines, we can
have very different ideas, but with respect,” said pro-government deputy
Daniel Lipovetzky.
MORE/FI/ 1230 hrs
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– Not One Less –
Once considered highly unlikely in traditionally Catholic, conservative
Argentina, support for decriminalizing abortion has grown in recent years,
boosted by a vociferous #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less) campaign against violence
against women as well as by last month’s referendum legalizing abortion in
Ireland.
That momentum has set it on a collision course against the religious
right, determined to block the legalization of abortion, a war being fought
on the pope’s turf.
In March, as the abortion debate heated up, the former Buenos Aires
archbishop sent a letter to the Argentine Episcopal Conference asking them to
“make a contribution in defense of life and justice.”
Supporters of the bill have denounced church pressure.
“It complicates things… But if abortion has been legalized in Italy,
where the power of the church resides, I don’t see why this would represent a
greater difficulty in Argentina,” said sociologist Sol Prieto from the
University of Buenos Aires.
“The church no longer has a monopoly, the religious dynamic is changing in
recent times in Argentina,” said Prieto.
– Deaths due to abortion –
According to official health ministry statistics, over 17 percent of the
245 recorded deaths of pregnant women and girls in 2016 were due to abortion.
NGOs say some 500,000 abortions a year are carried out clandestinely, often
in conditions which pose a health risk for women and girls.
“We are not questioning the personal and religious beliefs of the
legislators, we are debating whether clandestine abortion is going to
continue or whether the state is going to guarantee legal abortion, so there
will not be one more dead,” said activist Myriam Bregman of the Workers’ Left
Front party.
Macri’s vice president, Gabriela Michetti, has come out strongly against
the bill.
“Being in favor of life is much more progressive and respectful,” she
said.
“If a woman does not want to be a mother, whatever the motive, she can
entrust the child for adoption.”
Whatever the outcome, the tide of public opinion is blowing in one
direction, according to sociologist Prieto.
“I don’t know if the law will be adopted, but if it’s not voted in this
time, it won’t be long before it is. It’s a movement that you can’t stop.”
Latin America has strict laws outlawing abortion, except in Uruguay, Cuba,
Guyana and Mexico City, where it is legal.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1232 hrs