Uruguayan Parliament approves abortion decriminalization bill
12/11/2008 17:07
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.
Xinhua
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