Chile Abortion Laws: Senate Blocks Bills Lifting Ban On Abortions

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera delivers a speech before students at the University of Tokyo on March 28, 2012. (YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images)

SANTIAGO, Chile -- The Chilean Senate has rejected three bills that would have eased the country's absolute ban on abortions.

One of the bills would have permitted abortion when two doctors said it was needed because of risks to a mother's life or other medical reasons, such as a fetus with low chances of survival. It was defeated in an 18-15 vote.

Another of the measures rejected on Wednesday would have allowed abortion in the event of rape.

Chile permitted abortions for medical reasons until 1973, when the military dictatorship led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet repealed the measure.

The current government of conservative President Sebastian Pinera has opposed any loosening of the prohibition.

"The Senate has voted in favor of life, of the unborn child, a policy the government has defended," Presidency official Cristian Larroulet said.

Socialist Sen. Isabel Allende, who had favored the proposed changes, said she believes it's an issue of women's rights and that "those rights must be respected."

Given the Senate's rejection, lawmakers will have to wait a year to propose any new abortion bill.

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Comments

[gloriaswanson43]

03:29 PM on 04/06/2012

Please join us in the 21st Century, Kthxbye

[Ossit]

03:28 PM on 04/06/2012

A poster said of a discussion with another poster "She didn't say it's a favour. Why do you? " She didn't. It was another poster said "she's here" "she commented" like it was a favor. I hate it when people read half of something.

[Just My Thoughts 2011]

02:40 PM on 04/06/2012

Opening the door is a slippery slope. Too many abortions going on in the U.S. even after considering all of the talking points.

[gloriaswanson43]

03:33 PM on 04/06/2012

Oh, give it a rest. When has comprehensive education really been given a chance here in the US? Since RvsW people have been arguing against it and preaching against it.

[averagezoe]

05:00 PM on 04/06/2012

You are misinformed. There are not enough abortions being performed in the US as clearly evidenced by the staggering numbers of starving and abused children.

[robphilnz]

08:37 PM on 04/07/2012

. . . and the unwanted Republicans.

[Catriona]

01:33 PM on 04/06/2012

Here in Britain women can get abortions up to 24-weeks, though the majority are performed in the first trimester. We are also fortunate that the Catholic population of the country is slightly under 9%, with the result that the RCC has little leverage here.

[Sue She]

01:58 PM on 04/06/2012

I'll be moving there soon if the US goes the same way as Chile.

[Catriona]

02:45 PM on 04/06/2012

I emigrated FROM the US. I've never regretted it.

[Cruel Justice Awaits]

01:08 PM on 04/06/2012

Looking into the faces of all policy makers in governments worldwide, when delegating womens issues....what do you see? I see contempt, bitterness, anger and hatred. Look closer as they stand their ground on issues that they will absolutely NEVER in a million years even remotely experience for themselves the ramifications. Now what do you see? Its like a bead of sweat they wipe from their furrowed brows or a deep breath you barely notice to slow the palpitations....its fear. In their struggle to maintain absolute control over half the worlds population, of which they began feeling the slip decades ago, they know change is eminent and they are scared to death. Of what? Always the unknown. World balance = world peace. We have never had this balance, we have never had world peace. And if these Neanderthals have it their way (in the assumption they maintain control) we never will. What might this world look like should we, united, remove misogyny and religion from our world governments and live unfettered by the invisible beliefs and imagined superiority of people who lied and bullied their way into positions of power? It has to begin somewhere.....why not here on a no contest issue such as this one?

[openmindguy]

03:15 PM on 04/09/2012

I am pro life and I do not need religion to take me in that direction. Logic does just fine for me. Life begins at conception. If not, then when? It is human life and therefore merits some protection to the most basic of all rights...the right to life. There is nothing misogynist about this view as the protection of human life extends to aborted females as much as it does to males. What we need is for humanity to be consistent in it's views and practices. The acceptance of abortion as a means of birth control exists due to the given population's desire for worry free intercourse. Pro abortionists have successfully won the day by diverting the argument to one of female reproductive rights while simultaneously referring to the aborted as something other than human. These two developments make it not only easy to look past the injustice perpetrated upon the unborn but it also allows supporters of the practice to view themselves as progressive champions of feminism. Neither is true of course, but that is the state of affairs right now. As was the case with slavery, this too shall pass. Search on the name Gianna Jessen, if you dare.

[Cruel Justice Awaits]

12:47 AM on 04/10/2012

Life begins when you are born. I think we all agree late term abortions are abominable. If during late term pregnancies should a situation arise that compromises the health and/or life of the mother and/or baby it should be up to her how to proceed and that means if by choosing to survive she aborts, thats her decision. That cant even fall under the fathers jurisdiction. If she chooses the life of the baby over her own that is her decision to make. Certainly within a loving relationship matters like this hopefully have already been discussed. I dont want to get into the very old argument about the difference between a lump of parasitic cellular growth, a tadpole-like organism and a fully developed fetus. The respectable time frame of up to 14 weeks should not be exceeded though some states will perform one at 24 weeks. Gianna Jessen was 30 weeks and by all accounts her young mother was healthy. This is unacceptable but this example does nothing to bolster your case when typically women seek abortion during the first trimester. Comparing slavery to abortion is fantastically incongruous. Yes, holding people captive and making them do something they dont want to do has past, thank God, which is why abortion will always remain available.

[Americanwoman55]

12:49 PM on 04/06/2012

TAKE A LOOOONG LOOK AMERICA!!!

This is where we are headed, Idaho is trying this now!!

do we want to be RULED like this!!!!

NOT ME !!!!!!

[truth be told again]

01:35 PM on 04/06/2012

And Mississippi, and Texas, and Oklahoma ... America looks very much like this NOW.

[Americanwoman55]

04:29 AM on 04/07/2012

Alabama, Kansas, Florida is trying, Virginia, Missouri, YEP and yet people will go NOT US . OH NO WE ARE NOT LIKE THIS DICTATOR OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!! Well yes we are and we are headed straight for being JUST LIKE THIS, if we are not careful AMERCIA WAKE UP AND SMELL THE STENCH!!!!!!

[Becky Bartlett]

12:33 PM on 04/06/2012

If you're pregnant in Chili, you're not a citizen, you're an incubator.

[truth be told again]

01:35 PM on 04/06/2012

Just like in Texas. Et cetera.

[Just My Thoughts 2011]

02:39 PM on 04/06/2012

Talking points not withstanding--- then don't get pregnant.

[gloriaswanson43]

03:35 PM on 04/06/2012

Again, give it a rest. Support education and an atmosphere where contraceptives and family planning are the norm. Sex is a need, not a want. It will happen so you may as well get used to it.

[Becky Bartlett]

04:58 PM on 04/06/2012

What if I develop pre-clampsia while pregnant? What about an eptopic pregnancy?

Would it please your Jesus for you to stand there and let me die, screaming and in agony?

[Left Hook]

11:37 AM on 04/06/2012

Oh, I see that the GOP republicans and evangelicals are alive and well in Chile too...

[jdryv]

10:56 AM on 04/06/2012

I think it goes something like this for many of the posters:

abortion = bad
countries like chile that are most restrictive on abortion = good
leadership in countries like chile that are most restrictive on abortion = good
kenya like chile in restricting abortion = good
kenyan leadership = good
perhaps we need more kenyan leadership in our country

[TheLastLuddite]

01:45 PM on 04/06/2012

Bwahahahahaha!

[mrjohnny212]

07:11 AM on 04/07/2012

The current state of "conservative" reasoning in the USA is so twisted I wouldn't even hazard formulating a theory on it.

[Imissgeorgew]

10:26 AM on 04/06/2012

Sebastian Pinera for POTUS!!

[Americanwoman55]

12:51 PM on 04/06/2012

We have him here his name is Newt no it's Santorum no it's RoMONEY no it's ISSA no it's Rubio.

take your pick they spew the same garbage but in a pretty package, their's is GOD's will . At least Sebastian is out of it it's about control

[Imissgeorgew]

02:12 PM on 04/06/2012

Sounds like someone needs a Jesus, Mary, & Joseph hug!

[truth be told again]

01:36 PM on 04/06/2012

Why don't you move to Chile if you like that kind of regime so much?

[SoylentGreenIsPeople]

07:51 AM on 04/06/2012

Remember Chile has Tea Party De@th squads that bury the opposition six feet under.

[spartanladkenny]

03:04 AM on 04/06/2012

I'm a man and I have a solution for this anti-abortion problem. Women should stop having sex with their spouses/partners. Then see how quickly these men will turn pro-abortion.

[debblack]

12:01 PM on 04/06/2012

Great Idea, I support that myself. All women stop having sex every where, until men come to their senses.
Why is saving a woman's life, not considered pro life. Why is a non breathing fetus always worth more than a living breathing woman?

[mrjohnny212]

07:13 AM on 04/07/2012

When it's a politically expedient way to win votes from the ignorant and ill informed.

[22tryon]

12:07 PM on 04/06/2012

If thats the case don,t be surprised if theres in up tick in rape.And also don,t be surprised that these raped woman still,by law will have to carry the kid.But once that child is born,well let,em die,because no one will support that child.Just like the good ole U.S.A.

[spartanladkenny]

02:25 AM on 04/07/2012

I know! the comment was written in jest. Chill out now!

[tarskarkas]

02:58 AM on 04/06/2012

Anyone who absolutely will not accept abortion under any circumstances should be required by law to provide one years fostering to provide relief to the orphanage of homeless kids . What gives you the right to dictate to people how to run their lives especially in ways that don't concern you at all ?

[synergie]

10:43 AM on 04/06/2012

That seems to be rather abusive to the child. How about they're required to pay the medical bills and support for the women that they refuse to allow to terminate their pregnancies? They can also pay for any security that she needs, and pay to provide care for her family as she's forced to gestate against her will. Afterwards they can pay for the upkeep for that unwanted child they've forced into being. That way they can finance the imposition of their will and not endanger the poor child by inflicting their narrow minded hatred upon them.

[see-ellen2001]

11:54 AM on 04/06/2012

Or be the one to tell the woman that, sorry, you have to die rather than have this life saving procedure. The elite and the power don't have to worry, they just fly elsewhere or bribe doctors to perform abortions.

[synergie]

08:07 PM on 04/07/2012

From the tone of some of the commentors here, they wouldn't mind telling the woman that. It would give them the opportunity to deliver a few more ignorant and hateful judgments.

[YourMindsEye]

01:42 AM on 04/06/2012

As soon as Obamacare is deemed unconstitutional, this conservative, patriotic court will take up abortion. It is time to overturn Roe v Wade, which was based on a lie.

[spartanladkenny]

03:02 AM on 04/06/2012

Yes. The go for the Civil Rights Act. Then reinstate slavery. Whites can be ALMIGHTY again!

[Try the truth]

11:50 AM on 04/06/2012

You know their discussing it! They forget, that in a very short time Whites will be the minority and turning this country into S Africa will not happen!

[synergie]

03:04 AM on 04/06/2012

So you think it's patriotic to sentence women to die? I think this post is based upon a lie, and pretty big one.

[nikkitytom]

01:38 AM on 04/06/2012

Men of course rejected the bills. MEN! I do not believe a man has the right to even speak about abortion or birth control. Until he can be raped or become pregnant.

That choice is the woman's. And those who choose to carry that child to term have the choice. Those who do not ... also have their choice.

Why don't why all of us just stop meddling in each other's lives. I would ask every woman who is pro-life how many children she's adopted ..... how many hours of free baby-sitting she's willing to provide .... and even how many thousands of dollars she will provide for education. Until she's willing to pitch in, even the women who support pro-life should mind their own business.

[americaine]

11:56 AM on 04/06/2012

Anti-abortionists talk big until until their, their wife's, or their daughter's health or life are threatened.

[synergie]

08:09 PM on 04/07/2012

They continue to talk big, while sneaking themselves, their wives or their daughters to the clinic a few towns over and having a "moral" abortion.