Colombia Becomes Latest Latin American Country to Allow Abortion -- Authorizes Procedure Up to 24 Weeks

Colombia's high court on Monday made a historic decision on abortion, as its high court authorized the procedure among women up to 24 weeks of gestation.

The decision was ruled out by Colombia's Constitutional Court after the decision of a tribunal composed of at least nine judges, Associated Press reported.

Under the decision, Colombia's high court legalized abortion until the 24th week of pregnancy, without requiring women to justify their decision.

France 24 noted that protesters, composed of anti and pro-abortion, gathered outside the capitol building in Bogota. Women wearing green scarves, which is the color of the pro-abortion movement, cheered as the court announced the 5-4 decision on the procedure.

Meanwhile, anti-abortion protesters waved blue flags when the decision was announced. The anti-abortion protesters reportedly knelt on the ground and prayed.

"This is a historic decision not only for Colombia but for all Latin America because it establishes abortion should be completely taken out of criminal code," Colombia-based lawyer Mariana Ardila said, per Axios.

Colombia Authorizes Abortion for Up to 24 Weeks of Pregnancy

Although the high court allowed abortion for women until 24 weeks of pregnancy, the entirety of the procedure is not decriminalized in the country.

"The performance of an abortion will only be punishable when it is carried out after the 24th week of gestation," the Constitutional Court said in a statement, via France 24.

However, the previous decision of the Constitutional court to allow abortion in some cases – rape, concerns on mother's health, and concerns on fetus' health – will still be accepted.

Before the latest ruling was issued, abortion was allowed to be performed on the said three scenarios, according to a ruling by Colombia's high court in 2006.

France 24 noted that with the latest ruling, abortion will be made outside the 24 weeks and the three exceptions will be criminalized. Women and doctors who perform the procedure outside the said criteria will face sentences ranging from 16 to 54 months of jail time.

Axios mentioned a study that revealed, Colombia records at least 400,000 abortions yearly. Of that number, 12 percent take place in official health centers.

Colombia's health ministry confirmed that an estimated 70 women die every year due to unsafe abortion practices.

Women's rights group told Axios that women do not seek the procedure on official health centers over fears of getting charges. Ardila said that 70 percent of criminal cases in connection to abortion originated that way.

Other Latin American Countries on Abortion

Colombia is not the only Latin American country that expanded the access of abortion among women.

It can be recalled that Argentina, Uruguay, and Cuba allow abortions without restriction at certain stages of pregnancy.

In September, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that criminalizing abortions are unconstitutional.

Ecuador's National Assembly last week established new regulations that allowed abortions in cases of rape or if a woman's life is at risk because of the pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Chile voted in February to include abortion in their new Magna Carta. Abortion is legal in Chile, in cases of sexual violence and when the mother and fetus' health is in danger, since 2017.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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