Argentina Senate prepares for historic vote on bill legalising abortion

Argentina is on brink of making history as first major Latin American country to legalise abortion. According to Guardian, country’s 72-member Senate will convene on Tuesday, December 29 (local time) to debate a bill that was approved by lower house of Congress earlier this month. This bill, if passed by Senate, will allow for abortions to be carried out up to 14th week of pregnancy.

Pro-choice and anti-abortion campaigners are expected to gar in plaza near Bues Aires’ congress building on Tuesday and remain re until Wednesday when a vote is expected. According to Argentinian media outlets, “green” camp pushing for landmark bill holds a slender vant over its “blue opponents. 33 senators are expected to back legislation, while 32 are projected to vote against it. Five senators are for w undecided. 

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Backed by President Alberto Fernandez, Chamber of Deputies of Argentina h approved bill with 131-117 vote with six abstentions.  bill is seen as a big step forward for legislation that could set tone for a wider shift in conservative Latin America. Amnesty International has also welcomed pro-abortion bill and furr called in country’s senate t to “turn its back” on women and help end clandestine abortions that risk women’s lives. 

‘better place for younger generations’

Mariela Belski, Amnesty International’s executive director in Argentina said that she was confident “voluntary interruption of pregnancy” bill would be approved. She said that she felt overjoyed and excited about what would be culmination of a deces-long struggle by women’s rights activists. Belski ded that day after tomorrow country will be a much better place than before and it will also be better for younger generations. 

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Meanwhile, in recent years, country has seen a grual rise in agsticism. Two years ago, during ministration of more conservative President Mauricio Macri, Senate voted against a similar bill to legalise abortion after it was narrowly approved by lower house. 

Last month, Argentina’s President h informed that more than 38,000 women are hospitalised yearly from poorly performed abortions and more than 3,000 have died since 1983. new bill specifies that pregnancy can be terminated voluntarily until week 14, but period could also be extended in cases of rape of health risk, as provided under current legislation.

(Im Credits: AP)

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