Colombia changes its abortion law. The women are celebrating. “It had to happen in the end”

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The Colombian Constitutional Court ruled on Monday 21 February that abortion is no longer a crime. In addition, termination of pregnancy will be possible in the first 24 weeks. This is the result of many years of efforts by non-governmental organizations and women to change the strict law.

Colombia decriminalizes abortion

According to the Colombian lawyer Marian Ardil, this places this country in the vanguard of South American countries. – We knew it was not going to be an easy fight, but at some point it had to happen –

Previously, women who underwent termination of pregnancy and those who helped them could face up to 16 to 54 months in prison. About 400 cases of this type were instituted in this country each year. It is worth mentioning that termination of pregnancy in Colombia was only legal in three specific cases – when the mother’s life was at risk, when the fetus was severely abnormal, or when the pregnancy resulted from rape.

Law changes in South America

South American countries have some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world. Recently, however, a lot has changed. One of the most important events was the change of law in Argentina.

In December 2020, the Argentine Senate legalized abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy. One of the most important reasons for the changes to the law was the activity of the illegal abortion underground. Previously, abortion was only allowed in cases where the pregnancy was a result of rape and a threat to the mother’s health.

And earlier this year, the new president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, pledged to legalize abortion. Currently, women from this country can do it only when the pregnancy resulted from rape, when the mother’s life is in danger and when fatal fetal defects are detected during pregnancy.