ARGENTINA
Seismic Shift
Argentina’s Senate voted early Wednesday to legalize abortion, marking a historic shift for the predominately Catholic country that is also the homeland of Pope Francis, NPR reported.
The Senate’s vote follows one by the lower house, which narrowly approved the measure earlier this month. The measure will allow abortions up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
Currently, abortions can only occur in cases of rape or when the mother’s life is in danger – otherwise the woman could face criminal charges.
President Alberto Fernandez proposed the law in mid-November and has been a vocal supporter of the legislation.
Argentina now becomes the fourth country in Latin America and the Caribbean to legalize abortion, joining Uruguay, Cuba and Guyana.
A majority of nations in the region allow abortion only if the mother’s life is threatened, and some outlaw it altogether. However, Colombia, Chile and Mexico have seen growing pro-choice movements in their countries.
Despite being largely illegal, nearly 5.4 million abortions occurred annually in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2015 and 2019, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
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