The right to abortion had been claimed in Argentina for decades. This Wednesday, December 30, senators adopted a law legalizing abortion.
On December 11, 2020, Argentinian MPs approved the text authorizing abortion during the first fourteen weeks of pregnancy. Now, abortion is officially legal in Argentina as the Senate majority also voted for the bill. This event is historic for the rights of women in the country. Argentina thus becomes the first major country in Latin America and the Caribbean to legalize abortion.
The emotion is strong for the activists in Argentina
The emotion is at its height in Argentina. On social networks, there are many videos and photos circulating, revealing a crowd of activists considerably relieved by the Senate's decision. For hours, thousands of people gathered, despite the pandemic, around Parliament awaiting the results of the vote. This debate seemed endless to those who had waited for so long for a step forward to be made in favor of women's rights. Banners and music were there. At around 4 a.m., 38 votes for and 29 against were announced. The activists jump for joy when they hear the news. The videos show them embracing, moved to tears by this historic decision and singing to the heart. The pictures speak for themselves.
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A long battle for women's rights
We told you about it on December 12, 2020, when the Argentinian deputies adopted the bill aimed at legalizing, but above all expanding access to abortion. In fact, until now in Argentina, abortion was only allowed in cases of rape or of danger to the life of the mother, by virtue of a law of 1921. This law was not without result. According to the Argentine government, each year between 370,000 and 520,000 illegal abortions are performed in the country. The result: it is the health of women who use it that is at risk. Each year, around 38,000 women are hospitalized for complications from clandestine abortions.
Getting this bill approved was a long battle for Argentinian activists. Already in 2018, a bill similar to the one just voted by the Senate was proposed. A heated debate that was not in the direction of women's rights advocates when the senators voted. The recent green light from the Senate, although it has a conservative majority, takes a load off many Argentine women who will now be able to resort to abortion under legal conditions and, above all, adapted to ensure their health.