(CP) – Despite fervent opposition from the nation’s evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics, the national government of Argentina voted to allow elective abortion before 14 weeks gestation.
In an early morning Wednesday vote, the Senate in the South American country voted 38-29 to pass a measure previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies, according to the BBC. Reacting to its passage on Twitter, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez wrote: “Safe, legal, and free abortion is law.”
“Today we are a better society that expands rights to women and guarantees public health,” he added. Fernandez has promised to sign the legislation. The vote comes after an unsuccessful attempt to legalize abortion in 2018 when the Senate rejected a similar measure.
Until now, abortion was only available in Argentina in the event of a rape or if the mother’s life was in jeopardy as a result of the pregnancy. Supporters of the bill are hailing it as a positive human rights development, especially that it happened in Latin America —
long considered a culturally conservative country where the Roman Catholic Church and a growing evangelical Christian population has considerable sway over society — and that it portends a future trend in the region. According to France24 Sunday, though Catholicism remains a force in Argentina, evangelicals have emerged to the front lines in the fight against abortion legalization since 2018. READ MORE
