Chile lawmakers take 'first step' towards easing abortion rules
September 28, 2021
7:18 PM CDT
Last Updated 11 hours ago
Americas
By Fabian Cambero
2 minute read
SANTIAGO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Chile's lower Chamber of Deputies approved on Tuesday a plan to debate a bill that would expand the legal access for women to get abortions, despite opposition from the South American country's center-right government.
The lower house passed the motion with 75 votes in favor versus 68 against and two abstentions, which allows it to move forward examining the bill that proposed legalizing termination of pregnancy up to 14 weeks.
The bill still faces a lengthy process before it could become law. Chile in 2017 legalized abortion for women under conditions where their life was in danger, a fetus was unviable or when a pregnancy had resulted from rape.
"We are happy and excited because we have taken a tremendous step, which we did not expect, to be honest, in terms of the rights of women," said lawmaker Maite Orsini, one of the promoters of the bill.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-lawmakers-take-first-step-towards-easing-abortion-rules-2021-09-28/