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Ecuador abortion: National Assembly rejects easing law in rape cases | Ecuador abortion: National Assembly rejects easing law in rape cases |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Ecuador's parliament has rejected a controversial bill to allow abortion in cases of rape, a proposal that exposed divisions in the traditionally Catholic country. | Ecuador's parliament has rejected a controversial bill to allow abortion in cases of rape, a proposal that exposed divisions in the traditionally Catholic country. |
Supporters of the reform pointed to what they say is an epidemic of rapes of girls and underage pregnancies. | Supporters of the reform pointed to what they say is an epidemic of rapes of girls and underage pregnancies. |
Some opposed it on religious grounds saying innocent lives would be at risk. | Some opposed it on religious grounds saying innocent lives would be at risk. |
Abortion is allowed only after the rape of a woman with a mental disability or when the mother's life is in danger. | Abortion is allowed only after the rape of a woman with a mental disability or when the mother's life is in danger. |
The proposal, which would also decriminalize abortion in cases of foetal abnormalities, fell five votes short of the 70 required for its approval at the National Assembly. Fifty-nine members were against it and six refrained from voting. | The proposal, which would also decriminalize abortion in cases of foetal abnormalities, fell five votes short of the 70 required for its approval at the National Assembly. Fifty-nine members were against it and six refrained from voting. |
The current abortion laws have been in place since 1938, and women undergoing terminations face up to two years in jail. | The current abortion laws have been in place since 1938, and women undergoing terminations face up to two years in jail. |
During the vote, dozens of pro-choice and anti-abortion protesters gathered outside the parliament's building in the capital, Quito. After the result was announced, supporters of the bill clashed with police, who used pepper spray to disperse them. | During the vote, dozens of pro-choice and anti-abortion protesters gathered outside the parliament's building in the capital, Quito. After the result was announced, supporters of the bill clashed with police, who used pepper spray to disperse them. |
Because of the restrictions, women and girls seek illegal and unsafe abortions, which can lead to health complications and death, activists say. Ecuador's health ministry said 15.6% of maternal deaths in 2014 were a result of clandestine terminations. | |
On average, seven girls under 14 - the age of consent in Ecuador - give birth every day in the country, or some 2,500 a year, while seven others terminate their pregnancies, according to rights group Fundación Desafío. And a quarter of all pregnancies of those aged between 15 and 19 is a result of rape, the group added. | On average, seven girls under 14 - the age of consent in Ecuador - give birth every day in the country, or some 2,500 a year, while seven others terminate their pregnancies, according to rights group Fundación Desafío. And a quarter of all pregnancies of those aged between 15 and 19 is a result of rape, the group added. |
Meanwhile, 11 women report cases of rape every day nationwide. | Meanwhile, 11 women report cases of rape every day nationwide. |
"Girls and women in the country, victims of sexual violence, are systematically tortured, forced into motherhood that they don't want," said Ana Cristina Vera, a supporter of the bill. | "Girls and women in the country, victims of sexual violence, are systematically tortured, forced into motherhood that they don't want," said Ana Cristina Vera, a supporter of the bill. |
The abortion debate in Latin America | The abortion debate in Latin America |
The reform was strongly opposed by the influential Catholic Church. Before the vote, the archbishop of Quito, Alfredo Espinoza, urged parliamentarians to reject it, saying: "God is the God of life, not the God of death." | The reform was strongly opposed by the influential Catholic Church. Before the vote, the archbishop of Quito, Alfredo Espinoza, urged parliamentarians to reject it, saying: "God is the God of life, not the God of death." |
More conservative members of the National Assembly, which had been debating the bill since January, defended increasing penalties for rapists instead of easing access to abortion. | More conservative members of the National Assembly, which had been debating the bill since January, defended increasing penalties for rapists instead of easing access to abortion. |
In a debate in February, parliamentarian Pedro Curichumbi said allowing abortion in cases of rape "would turn [rape] into a sport or a hobby", encouraging men and boys to continue to violate women, Reuters news agency reports. | In a debate in February, parliamentarian Pedro Curichumbi said allowing abortion in cases of rape "would turn [rape] into a sport or a hobby", encouraging men and boys to continue to violate women, Reuters news agency reports. |
Proposals to change the legislation had already been rejected by the National Assembly in 2013. | Proposals to change the legislation had already been rejected by the National Assembly in 2013. |
"The rights that we have need to be respected," said Pamela Enriquez, who was protesting against the bill. "The love and values of our parents, of our ancestors [need to] be respected, a love for life, a love for the basic respect for life." | "The rights that we have need to be respected," said Pamela Enriquez, who was protesting against the bill. "The love and values of our parents, of our ancestors [need to] be respected, a love for life, a love for the basic respect for life." |
Abortion in cases of rape is allowed in many Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Panama, according to the advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights. | Abortion in cases of rape is allowed in many Latin American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Panama, according to the advocacy group Center for Reproductive Rights. |
Some countries have banned them entirely. Among them are Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, where the trial of a 21-year-old woman accused of murdering her baby, found dead in the toilet where she had given birth, was internationally condemned. | Some countries have banned them entirely. Among them are Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, where the trial of a 21-year-old woman accused of murdering her baby, found dead in the toilet where she had given birth, was internationally condemned. |
You may also find interesting | You may also find interesting |
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