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Uruguay Congress votes to legalise abortion
Fierce arguments have been put on both sides of the abortion debate in Uruguay
The lower house of Uruguay's Congress has voted to legalise abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The bill was approved by 50 votes to 49 after 14 hours of debate.
The law must now be approved by the Senate, which voted for a previous version of the text last December. President Jose Mujica has said he will approve the law if passed by Congress.
Cuba and Mexico City are the only other parts of Latin America with comparably liberal abortion laws.
Most countries in the region - where Roman Catholicism is a dominant force - allow abortion only in cases of rape, when the woman's life is in danger or if the foetus is severely deformed.
Under Uruguay's current legislation, women who have an abortion and the people who assist them face prison.
Abortion is only allowed in the case of rape or when the life of the woman is in danger.
The new legislation would allow abortion at the request of the woman, after she has spoken to a panel consisting of a doctor, a psychologist and a social worker who would inform her of any risks and of alternatives such as adoption.
The woman would then have to wait five days before going ahead with the procedure.
A similar law was debated and approved by Congress in 2008 but was vetoed by then President Tabare Vasquez.
Opinion polls suggest that a majority of Uruguayans support legalisation of abortion.
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Comment number 37.
Anita26th September 2012 - 17:01
being a South American woman that had live half my life in both Peru and Argentina, I should say this is so important for woman to have. Aside from some great men in our (south american) society, the accepted idea here is that it is the job of a woman to take care of the offspring. It is perfect to let woman decide on this issue!
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Comment number 24.
Ginger Ferrit26th September 2012 - 16:26
I don't understand why people would be against laws allowing women to have the CHOICE to abort pregancies they don't feel they can cope with.
If the mother agrees that abortion is a sin against her deity of choice, then she'll likely choose not to have an abortion!
How dare all of you force your Godly ideals upon people who should be free to make their own choice!
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Comment number 20.
frazza126th September 2012 - 16:01
I would hope this will be the beginning of all of South America changing their stance on abortion. Every woman should have the right to get a safe abortion and not have to resort to back street illegal abortions.
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Comment number 9.
Alasdair BM Macleod26th September 2012 - 15:06
Very sad news. Abortion is a sin against God. When is it all right to kill a baby in the womb?
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Comment number 2.
Removed26th September 2012 - 13:55
All this user's posts have been removed.Why?
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