Colombia's Constitutional Court on Monday voted 5-4 to decriminalize abortions in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in a historic decision for women's rights.
The big picture: It's the latest sign that views about the procedure are shifting in Catholic-majority Latin American countries, especially as the right to an abortion in the U.S., which served as a cultural example, is at risk.
What they're saying: “This is a historic decision not only for Colombia, but for all Latin America because it establishes abortion should be completely taken out of the criminal code. Hopefully other countries follow suit,” said Colombia-based lawyer Mariana Ardila, who works for Women’s Link.
- “Now there will be civil health regulations, so women can have information, accompaniment, access to procedures and contraceptives instead of fearing criminal charges if they use the health system," she told Axios Latino.
Catch up quick: Colombia in 2006 legalized abortions in cases of rape reported to authorities, risk to the women's life or of an unviable fetus. Cases outside those circumstances carried a possible jail sentence of up to four and a half years. ...
- On average, 400 such criminal cases have been opened yearly — 20% of them against minors, according to government data.
- A collective of about 90 women's rights filed a lawsuit in September 2020, arguing that country's laws around abortion were unfair to women and the three exemptions weren't enough.
- The Constitutional Court's debate was repeatedly delayed due to requests for the recusal of judges that had publicly expressed opinions about abortion in the past.
- A poll this month showed 49% of Colombians are against