The administration of Argentine president Alberto Fernández, who took office last week, has updated the country’s abortion protocol to guarantee access to abortion to women who have been raped.
Argentine law allows abortion in cases when the mother’s life or health is in danger, or in cases of rape. But pro-choice activists maintain that it has not in fact been accessible because of hospitals’ discretion and conscientious objection.
Health minister Gines Gonzalez Garcia stated: “the protocol will be used as a guide, especially in cases where the law clearly allows for the interruption of pregnancies”. “We are respectful of conscientious objection but conscientious objection cannot be used as an institutional alibi for not complying with the law”, Gonzalez added. Fernández, of the Justicialist Party, assumed office Dec. 10. He has also announced plans to decriminalize abortion.
A bill to legalize abortion through the first 14 weeks of gestation narrowly passed the Chamber of Deputies in 2018 but was rejected by the Senate. CNA
