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| Uruguay set to legalise abortion | Uruguay set to legalise abortion |
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| Uruguay is preparing to legalise abortion, a groundbreaking move in Latin America where no country except Cuba has made abortions accessible to all women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Compromises made to get the measure through Congress disappointed both sides of the abortion debate, who gathered in protest. Once through Uruguay's lower house, the measure would go back to the Senate for approval of changes, but President José Mujica has said he will allow it to become law. | Uruguay is preparing to legalise abortion, a groundbreaking move in Latin America where no country except Cuba has made abortions accessible to all women during the first trimester of pregnancy. Compromises made to get the measure through Congress disappointed both sides of the abortion debate, who gathered in protest. Once through Uruguay's lower house, the measure would go back to the Senate for approval of changes, but President José Mujica has said he will allow it to become law. |
| The measure would give women the right to a legal abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and decriminalise later-term abortions when the mother's life is at risk or when the foetus is so deformed that it would not survive. In cases of rape, abortions would be legal during the first 14 weeks. The goal is to reduce the number of illegal abortions in Uruguay, Iván Posada of the centre-left Independent party told fellow legislators on Tuesday. Posada wrote the law and is expected to provide a 50th vote against the opposition's 49. | The measure would give women the right to a legal abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and decriminalise later-term abortions when the mother's life is at risk or when the foetus is so deformed that it would not survive. In cases of rape, abortions would be legal during the first 14 weeks. The goal is to reduce the number of illegal abortions in Uruguay, Iván Posada of the centre-left Independent party told fellow legislators on Tuesday. Posada wrote the law and is expected to provide a 50th vote against the opposition's 49. |
| "They talk of 30,000 a year, a hypothetical number, but whatever the number is, it's quite dramatic for a country where 47,000 children are born each year," Posada said in an earlier interview. | "They talk of 30,000 a year, a hypothetical number, but whatever the number is, it's quite dramatic for a country where 47,000 children are born each year," Posada said in an earlier interview. |
| Concessions include women seeking abortions must go before a review panel of at least three professionals – a gynaecologist, psychologist and social worker – to explain her request and listen to advice about alternatives including adoption and support services should she decide to keep the baby. | Concessions include women seeking abortions must go before a review panel of at least three professionals – a gynaecologist, psychologist and social worker – to explain her request and listen to advice about alternatives including adoption and support services should she decide to keep the baby. |
| Then she must wait five more days "to reflect" on the consequences before the procedure. | Then she must wait five more days "to reflect" on the consequences before the procedure. |
| "It's important that the woman who decides to have an abortion attend this meeting where she will be informed, where they'll explain all the options including alternatives that she is free to choose from," Posada said. | "It's important that the woman who decides to have an abortion attend this meeting where she will be informed, where they'll explain all the options including alternatives that she is free to choose from," Posada said. |
| The review panel should obtain the father's point of view, but only if the woman agrees. Women under 18 must show parental consent, but they can seek approval from a judge if they are unwilling or unable to involve their parents in the decision. | The review panel should obtain the father's point of view, but only if the woman agrees. Women under 18 must show parental consent, but they can seek approval from a judge if they are unwilling or unable to involve their parents in the decision. |
| The measure also allows entire private healthcare institutions, as well as individual healthcare providers, to decline to perform abortions. | The measure also allows entire private healthcare institutions, as well as individual healthcare providers, to decline to perform abortions. |
| Such requirements raised objections from Amnesty International and other groups, which say layers of bureaucracy will create barriers and delay abortions until more than 12 weeks have passed, thus forcing women and healthcare providers into criminal territory. | Such requirements raised objections from Amnesty International and other groups, which say layers of bureaucracy will create barriers and delay abortions until more than 12 weeks have passed, thus forcing women and healthcare providers into criminal territory. |
| "This is not the law for which we fought for more than 25 years," said Marta Agunin, who directs Women and Health, a non-governmental organisation in Uruguay. | "This is not the law for which we fought for more than 25 years," said Marta Agunin, who directs Women and Health, a non-governmental organisation in Uruguay. |
| Also opposed are Uruguay's Catholic and evangelical institutions, which along with public hospitals provide much of the available healthcare in Uruguay. | Also opposed are Uruguay's Catholic and evangelical institutions, which along with public hospitals provide much of the available healthcare in Uruguay. |
| A statement from Uruguay's Catholic University says it makes no sense to punish a woman for killing a foetus that is 12 weeks and one day old, but to decriminalise abortions before then. Conservatives also object to the removal of a proposal to require the father's consent before any abortion. | A statement from Uruguay's Catholic University says it makes no sense to punish a woman for killing a foetus that is 12 weeks and one day old, but to decriminalise abortions before then. Conservatives also object to the removal of a proposal to require the father's consent before any abortion. |
| Cuba, which decriminalises abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, is the only country in Latin America where legal abortion is common. Argentina and Colombia allow it only in cases of rape or when the mother's life is endangered. Colombia also allows it when there is proof of fetal malformation. Mexico City has legalised first-trimester abortions, but there are restrictions in most other parts of the country. | Cuba, which decriminalises abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, is the only country in Latin America where legal abortion is common. Argentina and Colombia allow it only in cases of rape or when the mother's life is endangered. Colombia also allows it when there is proof of fetal malformation. Mexico City has legalised first-trimester abortions, but there are restrictions in most other parts of the country. |
| Many countries ban abortions under any conditions. | Many countries ban abortions under any conditions. |
| Uruguay's lawmakers have no desire to make their country a destination for women from other countries seeking abortions. The measure says only Uruguayan citizens and women who can prove at least one year's residency can apply. "This is a solution for those who live here, not that Uruguay becomes a place that attracts people from other countries for this procedure," Posada said. | Uruguay's lawmakers have no desire to make their country a destination for women from other countries seeking abortions. The measure says only Uruguayan citizens and women who can prove at least one year's residency can apply. "This is a solution for those who live here, not that Uruguay becomes a place that attracts people from other countries for this procedure," Posada said. |
| Opposition deputy Javier García, of the centre-right National party, accused legislators of treating living embryos as if they were "disposable," which he equated with murder. | Opposition deputy Javier García, of the centre-right National party, accused legislators of treating living embryos as if they were "disposable," which he equated with murder. |
| The margin for the law was razor thin on Tuesday after deputy Andrés Lima of the ruling Broad Front coalition said he would refuse to vote. With Posada joining the coalition, the measure appeared headed for passage by 50-49. | The margin for the law was razor thin on Tuesday after deputy Andrés Lima of the ruling Broad Front coalition said he would refuse to vote. With Posada joining the coalition, the measure appeared headed for passage by 50-49. |
| Dr Marie Gonzalez, bioethicist at the University of the Republic, called the measure "evil" and vowed to work to persuade her fellow gynaecologists to refuse to perform the procedure if it becomes law. "The embryo-fetus is a human being, and as such has rights, like the human right to live," she said. | Dr Marie Gonzalez, bioethicist at the University of the Republic, called the measure "evil" and vowed to work to persuade her fellow gynaecologists to refuse to perform the procedure if it becomes law. "The embryo-fetus is a human being, and as such has rights, like the human right to live," she said. |
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