Colombia’s Constitutional Court approved this Monday (21) the partial decriminalization of abortion, allowing the voluntary termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks, although it did not eliminate the crime from the Penal Code, the court said.
Decriminalization was accepted in an extraordinary session by five votes in favor and four against.
Until now, abortion was only allowed in Colombia for three reasons: when the health or life of the mother is at risk; when it is the result of sexual violence or incest; or if there is malformation of the fetus, while in other cases it is punishable by up to four and a half years in prison.
Convictions of Gazeta do Povo: Defense of life from conception
This is not, however, the elimination of the crime of abortion from the Penal Code – it will continue to be punishable after 24 weeks when the three causes are not involved – as requested by feminist organizations.
The change had favorable votes from judges Alberto Rojas, Diana Fajardo, Antonio José Lizarazo and José Fernando Reyes and judge Julio Andrés Ossa, who was chosen to break the tie in the Court.
Judges Cristina Pardo, Paola Andrea Meneses, Gloria Stella Ortiz and Jorge Enrique Ibáñez voted against, according to information provided by the Court.
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