The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, partially vetoed the law approved in the National Assembly -Congress- that regulates abortion for rape, and raised the alerts in feminist groups that study legal responses and possible mobilizations in the streets.
Lasso, in a letter posted on social media, announced his decision to include 61 “alternative texts” to the regulations discussed in the Legislative, considering that this, supposedly, does not agree with the ruling of the Constitutional Court that decriminalized abortion in cases of rape in 2021.
There are clear provisions in the sentence that have not been complied with
The ruler, with a conservative tendency, confirmed his intention to respect the functions of the State and submit to the postulates expressed by the Constitutional Court.
(In context: Congress of Ecuador regulates access to abortion in case of rape).
In his text, Lasso recalled that the Constitutional Court forced Parliament to “formulate a bill that regulates the deadlines for abortion after rape“, and considered that “there are clear provisions in the sentence that have not been complied with” by legislators or what “they are not consistent“With the current legal framework.
twelve weeks for all
The president suggested that the twelve-week term be unified in cases of abortion due to rape and did not accept the 18-week exception that was set for girls, adolescents, indigenous people, and women in rural areas.
As a Catholic man I will continue to live according to my beliefs
Also, Lasso said that has proposed requirements for access to abortion for rape, including filing a complaint, an affidavit or a medical examination that proves sexual assault. He also suggested respecting the possible conscientious objections that medical personnel may present to attend to this type of case.
“I firmly believe that our laws should not be a factor of division, but of encounter. The laws are for the benefit of all Ecuadorians in their vast diversity and plurality“, mentioned Lasso, who also clarified that he is the president of a “secular state“.
(We recommend: Abortion in Colombia: ‘Fourteen weeks would have been the convenient limit to abort’).
“As a Catholic man I will continue to live according to my beliefs, but as President of the Republic of Ecuador I will do everything in my power to enforce the principles of a fully republican and democratic system.Lasso stressed.
In the hands of Congress
After submitting its observations to the National Assembly, it will have one month to ratify its original resolution, for which it will need a two-thirds majority (92 votes), or to accept the Executive’s proposals, which it can approve with a simple majority. (half plus one of the votes).
Whether or not you adopt President Lasso’s proposal, the Legislature may not exceed the stipulated term in its processing, otherwise the presidential text will be approved by force of law. In the midst of the official debate, feminist organizations are also studying the scope of the presidential announcement and its implications.
Feminist groups, on alert
Verónica Verá, a member of the feminist collective Surkuna, assured the ‘EFE’ media agency that the feminist groups have undertaken an in-depth analysis of President Lasso’s pronouncement, but said that she was struck by the fact that he had announced 61 alternative texts to a text of 63 articles.
This means that “has affected most” of the legislative proposal and, above all, on important issues such as deadlines, conscientious objection and the requirements for access to that right, said Verá.
According to her, the changes that have been given to the order of the Constitutional Court, which guarantees women’s access to abortion after rape, “will hinder more” that right.
The Executive’s proposals could create “insurmountable barriers for rape survivors” and they do not submit to the decision of the Constitutional Court that required that the regulations adhere to “the highest international human rights standards“added the activist.
(You may be interested in: Abortion in Colombia: ‘I feel the ruling as a reparation’, woman who had a barrier to abortion).
She recalled that the feminist groups will rule in the coming days on President Lasso’s decision, although she said that there is a perception in her group that “this ban can’t mean anything good for rape survivors“.
The strategies of feminism could not only include mobilization, as has already been demonstrated on several occasions, but also legal actions that are also being studied, added Verá.
EFE
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