Red de Profesionales de la Salud por el Derecho a Decidir

The pandemic put anticipated legislative progress on Argentina’s abortion reform on hold, but activists are determined to keep up the momentum.

Cora Fernández Anderson
July 9, 2020

Early in 2020, it appeared that the legalization of abortion was, at last, imminent in Argentina. After a long struggle by activists, the elements of a strong movement, favorable public opinion, and sympathetic allies in power all aligned in favor of finally reforming the 1921 criminal code that allows a legal abortion only under the narrow circumstances of rape or a threat to a woman’s life and health. Following last year’s general elections, support permeated the halls of power: a multi-party coalition in Congress, the presidents of the Senate and lower house, the heads of the congressional commissions charged with discussing the bill, and even the president of the country all supported reform.

But then, in early March, Covid-19 reached Argentina. The government declared a lockdown, and everything stopped—including the prospects of abortion reform.

Continued: https://nacla.org/news/2020/07/08/argentina-abortion-reform-covid

BREAKING NEWS: ARGENTINA – Abortion law reform bill tabled in Congress: the outcome of a critical mass of support

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
March 9, 2018

On 5 March at 17:50pm, the abortion bill of the Campaña Nacional por Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuito was tabled in the lower house of the Argentine Congress for the seventh time, but this time endorsed by 71 Deputies. Opening the press conference that day in the Members’ Annex, in a room overflowing with 200 supporters of the bill who were clapping and singing: “Legal abortion / in the hospital”, National Campaign chair Pamela Martín García said: “We wonder if this will be the last time this bill will have to be tabled before becoming law.”

“It is wonderful that the bill has been included on the parliamentary agenda. It is through the power of the feminist movement, women in action, and the appearance of the movement “Ni una menos” in the street,” said Marta Alanis of Catholics for the Right to Decide.

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/breaking-news-argentina-abortion-law-reform-bill-tabled-in-congress-the-outcome-of-a-critical-mass-of-support/