Argentine Supreme Court rules women free to terminate pregnancies resulting from rapes
Argentine Supreme Court rules women free to terminate pregnancies resulting from rapes
By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, March 13, 2:28 PM
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina’s Supreme Court has ruled that any rape victim can get an abortion, setting a historic precedent in a country where abortions are generally illegal.
Until now, it has been up to a judge to decide which rape victims can get abortions, and generally only women with mental disabilities have been approved. In several well-publicized cases, even young girls who had been raped were forced to carry out their pregnancies.
The Supreme Court now says no rape victim can be punished for terminating a pregnancy. And they no longer need a court order. All they need to provide to a doctor is a sworn declaration.
The Roman Catholic Church is condemning Tuesday’s unanimous ruling, saying abortions are wrong even in the event of a rape.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/argentine-supreme-court-rules-women-free-to-terminate-pregnancies-resulting-from-rapes/2012/03/13/gIQAETi19R_story.html
