Protest in São Paulo calls for legalization of abortion

On November 29, the Supreme Court decided to decriminalize first

Published on 09/12/2016 - 09:01 By Camila Boehm reports from Agência Brasil - São Paulo

São Paulo - Uma manifestação pelo direito das mulheres ao aborto percorreu ruas da região central da capital paulista e ocupou o Masp (Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil)

The act, entitled "No More Deaths for Women! Congress, take your hand off our body," was staged in the central region of São Paulo capital this Thursday (Dec. 8) evening.Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil

A protest over women's right to abortion was staged in the central region of São Paulo capital this Thursday (Dec. 8) evening. The act, entitled "No More Deaths for Women! Congress, take your hand off our body," began outside the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), traditional starting point for several protests in São Paulo.

One of the act leaders, Sâmia Bomfim, member of the collective Juntas! [Together!, in an unofficial translation] and elected councilwoman from São Paulo, noted that the legalization of abortion in the country "is an urgent agenda since we are aware that every two days a woman dies in Brazil as a result of illegal abortion and many of those who do not die are mutilated, and have complications for the rest of their lives."

In Bomfim's opinion, the debate over the legalization of abortion is disrupted by religious and moral views, and it is not taken as a public health care issue. "Women are dying and they are suffering because of this," she said.

Precedent

On November 29, the Supreme Court decided to decriminalize first-trimester abortion based on the understanding that the articles that criminalize abortion in the Penal Code are not constitutional. The ruling, however, was only valid for a specific case.

For Bomfim, the precedent was created by the Supreme Court and "it is a very important precedent because it means that, although it is a controversial debate, there is room to discuss this issue. Today's act also shows the strength and depth that the issue has in the country," she added.

The case ruled by the Supreme Court tried for the revocation of the arrest of five people—among them doctors and other employees—detained in Rio de Janeiro in a police operation into a clandestine abortion clinic.


Translated by Amarílis Anchieta


Fonte: Protest in São Paulo calls for legalization of abortion

Edition: Augusto Queiroz / Olga Bardawil

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