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Chile is one of the few countries in the world that does not permit abortion under any circumstances. Women who have been raped, who have an unviable pregnancy, or whose health or life at risk, cannot decide to undergo an abortion.
This total prohibition was one of the last acts in office of Pinochet in 1989. Despite the prohibition, recent estimations placed the number of clandestine abortion as high as 110,000 per year. Only few extreme cases are reported in the media, as the cases of children that got pregnant as a result of rape which are forced to continue the pregnancy.
The total ban of abortion entails not just gender discrimination but also deepens social inequalities among women. Those women that have more money and social contacts can access to safer abortions, in private clinics or travelling to other countries where abortion is allowed. However, most women abort clandestinely in unsafe conditions being exposed to risks for their health and also to face criminal prosecution. A great majority of women are turned in to the police by health care providers of public hospitals while being treated for abortion complications.
Despite the fact that Chile has made important progress regarding human rights, women’s rights to decide autonomously over their own bodies have not been fully recognised. International Organizations have repeatedly recommended to Chile to change the current total prohibition of abortion.
Women’s organizations in Chile need the support from all over the world in order to obtain from Bachelet’s Goverment -former Executive Secretary of UN Women- and the Parliament, the modification of the current legislation to allow women to legally end their pregnancies.
You can support this campaign, by joining it in the following links:
Or you may send us a mail to abortolegalenchile@gmail.com
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