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2008, San José, Costa
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Uruguayan Parliament
Approves Abortion
Decriminalization Bill
Brazilian Woman Killed
By Husband's Coffin
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Uruguayan Parliament
Approves Abortion
Decriminalization Bill
Montevideo - Uruguay's
Senate voted to allow
abortion during the
first 12 weeks of
pregnancy, despite the
threat of Uruguayan
President Tabare Vazquez
to veto the measure.
The bill passed the
Senate with 17 of the 30
senators present.
The original version of
the law of Sexual and
Reproductive Health was
approved a year ago by
the Senate, but it had
to be analyzed again
because of some slight
modifications to the
original text. The bill
was also approved by the
lower House of Deputies
last week.
If the bill is issued,
women may opt for
abortion within the
first 12 weeks of
pregnancy. At present
abortion is banned in
Uruguay and Catholic
Church is against
abortion in the country.
One of the promoters of
the law, Senator Monica
Xavier from the ruling
party said that it is
"law for the life" that
defends the human
rights.
Senator Alberto Couriel,
also from the ruling
party, urged Vazquez
"not to veto this law"
so the controversial
issue which has divided
Uruguayan society and
even the ruling party
could be solved through
public consultation.
Vazquez has said on many
occasions that he will
veto the law for
"philosophical" reasons.
The abortion supporters
do not have the required
majority in the General
Assembly of the
Parliament to lift a ban
decreed by the
president.
According to a poll
published this week by
local press, 57 percent
of Uruguayans support
the decriminalization of
abortion, and 63 percent
oppose the president's
veto. |
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