The Chilean Parliament has protected the rights of unborn babies and quashed a dangerous bill that would have legalised abortion up to 14 weeks.
The Chamber of Deputies, Chile’s lower house, defeated the bill on Tuesday 30 November by a vote of 65-62.
After being introduced in January, the abortion bill was debated in the lower house and sent back to the committee phase. A further debate occurred after the November presidential elections, before it was defeated in a full session of the Chamber of Deputies.
Abortion activists began its assault on the traditionally pro-life South American country in September 2017, when abortion was made legal up to 12 weeks of pregnancy on the grounds of rape and with no limit in cases of foetal abnormalities or when the mother’s life is at risk.
Rosario Corvalán, a lawyer for Comunidad y Justicia, was very pleased with the result, and believes that it sends a strong message to the people of Chile. She said: “They must stop giving us the message that ‘the majority of citizens want these bills’, because our representatives have spoken and they don’t want abortion.”
Constanza Saavedra, a pro-life advocate in Chile, also welcomed the defeat of the bill.
Encouraging pro-lifers to remain resolute in their fight to make abortion unthinkable, Corvalán said: “Let’s go back to this common-sense idea of defending the life of an innocent person.”
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “This is wonderful news. All pro-lifers should be encouraged by this vote.
“Despite the money, media support and propaganda from wealthy global promoters of abortion invested in this bill, Chile recognised the danger to women posed by abortion on demand, as well as the life-threatening implications on unborn babies.
“This is a victory for the unborn, a victory for women and a victory for Chile.”
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