Argentina lawmakers begin abortion debate

Seventy senators, more than half of then men, will define the fate of the bill that would legalize abortion in Argentina, a decades-old demand from the women's movement that could change the paradigm in a region where its criminalization prevails.

The initiative will be discussed in Pope Francis' home country, driven by Alberto Fernández's government.

The bill states that women have the right to access voluntary termination of pregnancy in the first week 14 of the gestational process.

Demonstrators for and against the bill have taken to the streets, mainly outside Congress to express their opinions.

Areas surrounding the Congress buildings have been fenced off.

The Senate session will begin at 4 p.m. (local time) Tuesday, and the vote, with uncertain results, is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Hours prior to the start of the historic session, Pope Francis again disagreed with the voluntary termination of pregnancy.

Latin America has some of the world's most restrictive abortion laws.

Currently, many women who have an abortion in Argentina, as well as people who assist them with the procedure, can face prosecution.

Exemptions are only considered in cases of rape or if the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother's health.

Tuesday's debate will be chaired by Vice-President and former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (2007-2015), who will only vote if there is a tie.

The bill aims to eradicate clandestine abortions that have resulted in more than 3,000 deaths in the country since 1983, according to the authorities.

Every year about 38.000 women are hospitalized for these procedures.