Chile: Congress takes step toward abortion decriminalization
ABC News
The lower house of Chile’s Congress has taken a step toward decriminalizing abortion in most cases, voting to craft a law barring prosecution of women who get abortions in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy
SANTIAGO, Chile -- The lower house of Chile’s Congress took a step toward decriminalizing abortion in most cases Tuesday, voting to craft a law barring prosecution of women who get abortions in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
The initiative, which is opposed by the government, still faces hurdles before it can become law. While lawmakers in the lower house voted 75-68 with two abstentions to debate it, details of a bill will have to be agreed upon before the matter then goes to the Senate.
Currently, abortion is allowed in Chile only in cases of rape, medical conditions that endanger a woman’s life or instances when a fetus would not be able to survive.
The vote by legislators came the same day that women's groups in Mexico, Venezuela and elsewhere the region were staging demonstrations against abortion restrictions.
