Women react after Colombia’s constitutional court voted to decriminalise abortion in Bogota
(Picture: REUTERS)Colombia’s constitutional court has voted to decriminalise abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in a “historic victory” for reproductive rights.
It brings the country in line with a number of Latin American countries which have recently liberalised abortion access, including Mexico and Ecuador.
Under Monday’s ruling, backed by five of nine judges, women will not be prosecuted for seeking an abortion up to 24 weeks into pregnancy.
After this point, the procedure will only be allowed in cases of rape, fatal fetal deformity and the health of a pregnant woman - previously the only three legal justifications for receiving any abortion in the country.
In a statement, the court said that the national government must urgently implement policies to help pregnant women. This includes legislation for family planning services, eliminating obstacles to abortion care and help with adoptions.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, said: “We celebrate this ruling as a historic victory for the women’s movement in Colombia that has fought for decades for the recognition of their rights.
“Women, girls and people able to bear children are the only ones who should make decisions about their bodies.”
She added: “Now, instead of punishing them, the Colombian authorities will have to recognise their autonomy over their bodies and their life plans.”
An estimated 400,000 abortions are performed each year in Colombia and just ten per cent are done so legally, according to healthcare provider Profamilia.
Supporters of the Causa Justa coalition, which sued for decriminalisation in September 2020, were seen celebrating outside the court in capital Bogota on Monday after the verdict was delivered.
"We did it!" the coalition, which is made up of more than 90 feminist organisations, wrote on its Twitter account.
Mexico’s Supreme Court decriminalised abortion last year, while Ecuador’s National Assembly last week approved regulations to allow access to abortion in cases of rape.
