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The Sexual and Reproductive Health Right Defense bill was introduced for discussion in parliament in the year 2006. On November 6, 2007, after several work sessions in the Health Committee, the bill was approved by 18 votes against 13 in a plenary session of the Senate. It is currently being discussed in the House of Representatives. The bill provides that the State will be the main party responsible for ensuring the conditions necessary for the whole population to exercise their right to sexual and reproductive health, without any kind of discrimination. It establishes measures for including sexual education in formal education; for the universal access to family planning services; for prevention and treatment of HIV-AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, genital and breast cancer prevention, reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality; and for the promotion of motherhood and fatherhood by choice.
Chapter II recognizes every woman’s right to decide on terminating a pregnancy up to the 12th week of gestation. After this term, abortion is only allowed in cases where the woman’s life is at risk and fetal malformations that are incompatible with life. Abortion is deemed to be a non-profitable act available both in public and private services and shall be performed by specialists in gynecology. Professionals can conscientiously object to performing abortions up to 30 days after the law has been passed. The bill establishes that the conscientious objection may not be grounds for a health care service not to answer to a user’s demand. Abortion remains a crime in the cases in which it is practiced against the woman’s will, or in situations in which the conditions established by the law are not met. |
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