Blog 9: Uruguay One Step Forward in Women’s Rights

Uruguay One Step Forward in Women’s Rights

Uruguay has made a major improvement to Women’s Rights after the Uruguayan President José Mujica signed a bill into law decriminalizing abortions.  This major step is the first for many Latin American countries, as many such as Chile, El Salvador, and Nicaragua have complete bans on this touchy subject.  Although praised as a huge milestone in Women’s Rights, some find the guidelines surrounding the new law to still be restrictive and in needing reform.  Under the new law, a woman seeking an abortion must follow a specific procedure in obtaining the right to an abortion.  The procedure must be within the first twelve weeks of gestation (fourteen weeks for incidences of incest and rape) and includes meeting with interdisciplinary team of physicians: at least one gynecologist, one mental health physician, and a social support specialist.  The law requires this aspect in order for the individual to inform the doctors about the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, including having to present economic and personal hardships to validate the abortion.   After consultation and cautioned of risk factors, the individual must wait a five day reflection period after which the individual, upon their own choice, may commence with the procedure.

The new bill passed by the Senate is hoping to reduce the amount of clandestine abortions, which 13% of maternal deaths in the region are a result of unsafe procedures.  In comparison to its neighboring countries, Uruguay is taking measures insuring human rights, even if the new law has its flaws.  It is a step in the right direction.  As the new law is being implemented, it is intended to not deny the procedure to any women seeking an abortion within the given time frame.  The next goal human rights activists is to diminish the restrictions of having to meet with a panel of physicians and the reflection period, as they state this is still an infringement on women’s rights.  

Oct. 26, 2012   ~13.45 

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/26/uruguay-new-abortion-law-breaks-ground-women-s-rights