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Colombia’s First Legal Abortion

Jill

And Colombia’s “legalization” of the procedure is a nice reminder of why we need to keep fighting for reproductive rights everywhere.

Colombia’s first legal abortion has taken place after the deeply-Catholic nation legalised the procedure in May.

Abortion is only permitted in three cases – if the mother’s life is in danger, if the foetus is badly deformed or if the pregnancy results from rape.

This case involved an 11-year-old girl who was raped by her stepfather.

Despite the change in the law, the girl’s case had to go all the way to the constitutional court before an abortion was authorised.


How generous of them to finally allow this little girl her fundamental rights. Good to know that it only takes being brutally abused by a family member and then going through a complicated judicial system in order to secure those rights.

Naturally, proponents of forced pregnancy among pre-teen girls are decrying the decision.

The Catholic Church nonetheless condemned the abortion and protesters gathered outside the hospital to oppose the procedure.

The subject of abortion raises passions and tempers in Colombia.

The pro-choice lobby believes that the May decision to legalise abortion in extreme cases was the first logical step to a general legalisation of abortion.

But with the fury aroused during this abortion, even under the circumstances, it is clear that such a step is still a way off.

The fact that such passions are raised by allowing an 11-year-old incest and rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy really speaks to the priorities of many individuals and organizations: Control of women first, fetus second, actual women a distant third.

Thanks to Chris for the link.

10 thoughts on Colombia’s First Legal Abortion

  1. This makes me think of Lina, the 5-year-old Peruvian(?) girl who was raped and had a baby—and who carried it to term, for what reason I don’t know.

    Looks like there’s a lot more wrong with Columbia that coca fields and tourist kidnappings.

  2. “Looks like there’s a lot more wrong with Columbia that coca fields and tourist kidnappings.”

    Personally, I don’t think Columbia is so much the problem as it’s deep Catholicism.

  3. You guys will love this,

    There is an entire tract by this Russian Orthodox priest that has been floating around the Internet for a while. Basically, he says that rape-victims who fall pregnant have no one but themselves to blame, since everyone knows that women “invite” rape, and even if they didn’t “the child” is still at fault.

    Best part? He says that little girls who fall pregnant have obviously behaved inappropriately, like “street kids,” and that it is up to them to “carry the cross” of their pregnancy, no matter how small and helpess they may be.

    Worst of all, a number of official Orthodox information portals have endorsed and promoted his little pamphlet, even archiving it on their servers. I wonder how many rape victims read that tripe and thought about killing themselves.

    I am not an advocate of corporal punishment, but if I ever meet that guy in person, I just might smack him.

  4. Oops, that should read “even if they didn’t, “the child” is not at faul.” Am not sure how that “not” became a “still.”

  5. Why the hell weren’t the protesters gathered outside wherever the rapist was held, to harass him, instead?

    Oh, that’s right. He was a pure, innocenet man tempted by a slatternly 11 year old. Shame on her for bringing down the name of this man.

    People make me way too sick sometimes…

  6. Considering the deep catholicism and the instilled patriarchical system of most of Latin America, I’m quite surprised that any kind of abortion finally has been allowed.

    Even though all of you are dumbfounded about the Columbian’s view of this girl, not only are females still considered property of all men in such cultures, we still haven’t come that far here.

    I’ve met plenty of people in this country who a) don’t seem to have a problem with men having sex with pre-pubescent or teenage girls b) don’t have a problem with young girls having babies c) have a real problem with any women getting an abortion for any reason at all.

    Let’s not forget that fine legislator in North Dakota. The 11- year old girl might not have passed his litmus test either.

  7. You have a point, kate! I was figuring she passed the Napoli test, but we don’t know if the girl was religious, after all, and that’s really what determines her virtue/value/deservingness of release.

  8. This makes me think of Lina, the 5-year-old Peruvian(?) girl who was raped and had a baby—and who carried it to term, for what reason I don’t know.

    Is this true? How on god’s green earth could a 5 year old get pregnant? That is just sick. Just absolutely, mind-numbingly nautious… The poor baby….

    Same thing for the 11 year old. I have an 11 year old niece. God help me if anyone ever touches her, I would have no qualms about shooting the bastard..

  10. Oh god, the comments on that article…ugh. Some people should crawl back under the rocks from whence they came.

    I’m curious as to how long the legal process for the poor Colombian girl took. It doesn’t seem to have been mentioned anywhere.

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