Brazil: Thousands Protest Against 'Child Pregnancy Bill' that Equates Abortion with Murder

On June 12, Brazil's Chamber of Deputies expedited a controversial bill equating abortion with murder. Bill 1904/2024, if passed, could impose up to 20 years in prison for abortions performed after 22 weeks of pregnancy.

Speaker Arthur Lira, without notifying deputies, fast-tracked the bill for a plenary vote using a 23-second symbolic vote, a method typically reserved for agreed-upon issues, according to People Dispatch.

The Child Pregnancy Bill proposes severe penalties for late-term abortions.

He prohibits abortions in cases of rape if the fetus is viable, sparking significant controversy.

Progressive lawmakers and activists, like Natalia Bonavides and Samia Bomfim, criticized the procedural maneuvering and accused Lira of undermining women's rights.

Social media reactions were overwhelmingly negative.

The Nem Presa Nem Morta campaign called Lira's actions "cowardly." At the same time, the National Front for the Legalization of Abortion labeled the process "dishonest and undemocratic."

Protests and Public Outcry

On Thursday night, feminist protests erupted in multiple cities across Brazil against Bill 1904/2024, known as the Child Pregnancy Bill, which affects young rape victims, BBC reports.

The Front Against the Criminalization of Women and For the Legalization of Abortion organized protests in 17 cities, with notable gatherings in Brasília and São Paulo.

In Brasília, hundreds rallied at the Republic's National Museum.

Thaísa Magalhães of Brazil's Central Workers' Union highlighted the urgency of opposing the bill.

Pedagogue Leila Rebouças criticized the Chamber of Deputies' discussion of women's bodies as election-driven.

In São Paulo, protesters at the Museum of Art on Paulista Avenue voiced strong opposition.

Ana Paula of the National Front Against the Criminalization of Women described the protests as a response to the erosion of a legally guaranteed right.

Thousands protested the Brazil abortion law, which equates abortion with homicide and imposes severe penalties for terminations after 22 weeks, even in rape cases.

Protests occurred in major cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília, with slogans like "a girl is not a mother" highlighting the impact on minors.

Currently, Brazilian law permits abortion in limited cases.

If passed, Bill 1904/2024 would impose prison sentences of six to 20 years for women and healthcare professionals involved in such procedures.

Political Reactions

The rapid advancement of Bill 1904/2024, bypassing usual procedural stages, has sparked significant opposition.

Councilwoman Monica Benicio stated, "We will not accept a setback. We will continue to advance until legal abortion is a guaranteed right in Brazil."

Deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante, who authored the Child Pregnancy Bill, celebrated its progress on social media.

However, the Brazilian government opposes the change in the law.

Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida called the bill "immoral," criticizing the imbalance between proposed penalties for abortion and the typical 10-year sentence for rape, Yahoo! News noted.

Brazil's political landscape is divided, with many lawmakers from former President Jair Bolsonaro's right-wing Liberal Party (PL) and other conservative factions supporting the bill.

The PL, the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, needs additional support to pass the Brazil abortion law.

No date has been set for the vote in the Chamber of Deputies. As the debate continues, public protests and political discourse are expected to intensify.

Advocates for women's rights and progressive lawmakers are determined to fight the bill, stressing the need for legal and safe abortion access.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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