Argentina abortion bill gains momentum in Congress

Buenos Aires, Argentina, Apr 4, 2018 / 03:38 pm MT ().- In a recent push to decriminalize abortion, Argentina’s Congress is considering a bill that would give women legal access to abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.

The proposed measure would grant women full access to legal abortions throughout the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, without any restrictions. The current law in Argentina prohibits abortion, except when the mother’s life or health is determined to be in danger, or in cases of rape.

The bill, which was presented by 70 lawmakers to Argentina’s Congress on March 6, must still pass through four other commissions before being officially debated in Congress.

Already, though, it has gained more traction than previous pro-abortion bills in the past. Six similar bills have been presented to Congress over the last 13 years, but none of them have garnered enough signatures to reach the open debate phase of Congress.

Some have attributed the bill’s growing popularity to President Mauricio Macri, who has encouraged “responsible” debate over the topic, while remaining personally opposed to the legislation, according to the Associated Press.

However, in the predominately Catholic country, many are still opposed to opening the door to pro-abortion legislation. On March 25, around 150,000 people marched for the “Day of the Unborn Child,” which honors the sanctity of all human life.

Argentina was the first Latin American country to officially recognize a “Day of the Unborn Child,” which was declared Dec. 7, 1998 by President Carlos Saul Menem.