NASR WRITES

WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

In a monumental victory for women’s reproductive rights in Chile, the government’s constitutional tribunal voted to decriminalize abortion in cases of rape, fatal fetal impairment or when a woman’s life is in danger. The decision of Chile’s constitutional tribunal to support the decriminalization of abortion under the three circumstances represents an important win for human rights and for the protection of the lives and health of women and girls across the globe.

Initially Chile did not explicitly permit abortion in any circumstances and nearly 2,00,000 unsafe abortions occurred each year in Chile. Far too many women have suffered at the hands of the country’s blanket ban on abortion. Now, only seven countries criminalize abortion. For too long, Chile has lagged behind in its efforts to protect women’s health, rights and equality by continuing to allow this extreme and harmful abortion ban.

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights urged Chilean Officials to redouble its efforts towards preventing adolescent pregnancies by assuring the accessibility, availability and affordability of emergency contraception and other critical reproductive health services.

The real task now is to ensure the law is actually enforced, that women and girls are fully able to access to comprehensive health services they need and that this reform opens the door for them to be able to fully enjoy their sexual and reproductive rights.

-Fathma Mohsin

President 

12-B.