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Possible decriminalizacion of abortion causes great controversy in Peru

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The possible decriminalization of the “eugenesic abortion,” that is, the one performed when the fetus has a severe disability, or of the so-called “sentimental abortion” (when the pregnancy is due to a rape) has opened a big debate in Peru.

A special committe revised the Peruvian Penal Code, and is supporting the decriminalization of the abortion in such cases.

The decision was rejected by the Justice Minister, Aurelio Pastor, who told the media that the official position of the Ministry is against the decriminalizacion, and remarked that Peruvian laws defend the rights of unborn children.

Luis Solari, a former Minister, claimed that some representatives of the National Assembly of Deans had not been convoked, and that the members of Peruvian Bar of Lawyers “do not feel represented” by Rosa Mavila, the delegate that was invited to the committee.

Solari also said that the figures given by DEMUS, a feminist organization, which claims that in Peru 376,000 clandestine abortions are performed each year “are false.”

On the other hand, Rosa Mavila pointed out that they are trying to decriminalize abortion “only in case of limit situations, to save the mother's life, or in case of anencephalic fetuses.”

Mavila also stated that Peru is the Latin American country with the highest rate of clandestine abortions.

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# Anonymous Dave says :
8 October, 2009 [ 19:52 ]

A great number of human beings grow up to deserve to have been aborted.

# HHHmmmmmm says :
8 October, 2009 [ 21:27 ]

David N and Carlos Benevides come to mind.

# mericorps says :
8 October, 2009 [ 21:29 ]

It does not matter if you are for or against abortion, they happen every day, have for thousands of years and will for thousands of years.

2 options, safe and regulated or illegal and back alley.

It is not a pretty option and no one prefers it, but to push it to back alleys is not the answer.

Sex education, birth control, parental involvment all lower abortion, that is the way to address the issue.

# hola1980 says :
9 October, 2009 [ 05:24 ]

if some one was to kill one of those ladies protesting in the above picture...it would be front page news..'murder'! So whats so different about killing a un born child?(the unborn child's voice cant be heard! its screams are silent! good job those 'lucky' people in the above picture had decent mothers who didnt decide to abort them otherwise they wouldnt be here today..abortion is murder simple. if you dont want the baby then give it up for adoption or for goodness sake use birth controll . bored of hearing about women killing and expecting sympathy. my baby  survived at 24 weeks...in some countrys you can abort a baby at 24 weeks...its sickening. I agree with Mericops Quote: 'Sex education, birth control, parental involvment all lower abortion, that is the way to address the issue'. or better still...if you are big and mature enougth to have sex in the first place then take responsilbilty .
Everyone is entitiled to their own opinion.. and I do respect that, and I  in no way wish to offend anyone., this is just my personal look at the issue.

# Torbjörn says :
9 October, 2009 [ 07:30 ]

Agree with mericorps.

Abortion will always happen. Women will do it the most controversially way and may die in the process from loosing too much blood or anything worse. My wife have worked as a nurse and seen it happen a lot in Peru.

I would like that every child in this world are born, loved and get a wonderful life and great expectations.

# David N says :
9 October, 2009 [ 10:04 ]

"they happen every day, have for thousands of years and will for thousands of years"

Never pegged you for a simpleton to make such a statement mericorps.  So do murder, robbery, rape and drunk driving and they're all still illegal and not likely to be legalized anytime soon.

Try looking at it from the unborn children's point of view for a change.  Not their fault and THEY sure want to live.

Peru has it right -- keep it illegal.  Now law enforcement needs to get more aggressive in finding and prosecuting abortion providers down here.

# Rich says :
9 October, 2009 [ 10:42 ]

hola 1890 relax...........if you read the article carefully you will see they want to this in limited situations to save the mothers life or a severe disability.

# Felicia says :
9 October, 2009 [ 11:50 ]

Debates over abortion become polarized into "pro" and "con" positions and tend to alienate each side from the other.

In the bigger picture, I think that most of us would agree that all women need better healthcare, better birthcontrol options, better family support and better support for their children once they are born.

The real question is: Does the state of Peru want to improve women's lives in substantial ways?

Real "choice" would be giving women of all income levels access to affordable gynecological care during all of their reproductive lives, and giving economic assistance to those who need it to survive. Economic concerns can drive women to abort a child, legally or illegally.

# mericorps says :
9 October, 2009 [ 13:51 ]

Don't like abortion David N, then don't have one.

But please, do not forced a raped woman to breed.

# god says :
9 October, 2009 [ 13:59 ]

In Numbers, Chapter 5, Verses 11-31 Priests are instructed to perform abortions on adulterous women.

# Merly says :
9 October, 2009 [ 16:57 ]

Not agree at all, can´t believe this is happenning in a "religious" country, oh well if the moms who abort die, well they probably die because they look for it, nobody force them to abort, they know the risk, they have to think better next time they decide don´t use protection, in case of a rape, well they can give the baby to a place where they can take care of the baby, why the need of killing the babies?, the people just need more education about it and about many other things.

# Ian says :
16 October, 2009 [ 08:41 ]

Here's a thought: why not struggle against the very machismo that leaves women barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen (and most often single!). Of course pro-lifers couldn't do that; these women are their martyrs!

# limena says :
16 October, 2009 [ 17:47 ]

God, i don't understand instead the govermment to have to much fun and to burocratic, especially from the alcaldes, and religion. Govermment should teach and croos teach around Peru to do abstinence, to do better the education for forgotten cities, and to teach them to be productive not reproductive, and to sentence those men to jail for life when they take advantage of innocent girls, now i do agree why have a child when it is not wanted?? also humans do mistake but if it was a pleasure who will raise a not wanted child who needs food, clothing, education, love, etc. how many thousand of children exist in the world when it could be prevented, but it is a woman and a man responsability not just one. 2 people dance the tango so ???? I am catholic but the most stupid thing about no birth control, tabu not to mention about condoms, it is irrevelant, it is time to educated the world and especially our people to prevent having unwanted babies!!!and to have consecuenses on having those children to beg on the street or work and be exploited, or go around the trash to seek for food!!! It has to stop. Consicous!!!

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