Argentina defies women’s rights activists to keep abortion illegal
ARGENTINA’S senators have voted against legalising abortion, dashing the hopes of women’s rights activists in the homeland of Pope Francis.
After a 15-hour session in the senate, watched on giant screens by campaigners on both sides waiting outside, the motion was defeated 38 to 31.
Women in the senate were equally split on the issue, with 14 voting to legalise, and 14 voting to continue with the current prohibition. Under Argentine law abortion is only permitted in the case of rape, a threat to the mother’s life or if the foetus is disabled.
The bill had sought to legalise abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy and would have seen Argentina join Uruguay and Cuba as the only countries in Latin America to fully decriminalise abortion. It is also legal in Mexico City. Only in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua does it remain totally banned.
Mauricio Macri, the Argentine president, praised “a mature parliamentary debate”. Mr Macri added that he was increasing sex education in schools and widening access to contraceptives.
Politicians have to wait a year before they can introduce another bill.
The vote comes as a disappointment to women’s rights activists, who celebrated in June when the lower house of congress voted narrowly to approve the bill. Opponents gathered in Buenos Aries on Wednesday night at a “Mass for Life” at the Metropolitan Cathedral, where Pope Francis was based during his tenure as the city’s archbishop.