Latin American women demand free and safe abortion

Latin American women's rights organizations took part in the International Day for the Decriminalization of Abortion to demand their governments stop criminalizing the voluntary termination of pregnancy. Although five Latin American countries have an absolute ban on abortion in their penal codes, others are taking steps towards its legalization. Colombia was the latest country in the region to join the small group of countries in the region where voluntary termination of pregnancy is legal in the first weeks of pregnancy. There are multiple barriers in the judicial or health system that impede the implementation of the law.