La penalización del aborto como una violación a los derechos humanos de las mujeres

Lidia Casas Becerra, Lieta Vivaldi Macho
| Universidad Diego Portales

Abortion in Chile: the long road to legalization and its slow implementation

Lidia Casas Becerra, Gloria Maira, Lieta Vivaldi Macho

Until as recently as September 2017, Chile was one of the few countries in the world that did not permit abortion under any circumstances. Although the Health Code had permitted therapeutic abortion (i.e., on health grounds) from 1931, this was repealed in 1989 as one of General Pinochet’s last acts in office. It took more than 25 years to reverse the ban. Finally, a new act was approved allowing abortion on three grounds: when a woman’s life is in danger, when there are fetal anomalies incompatible with life, and in the case of rape. Since the law allows abortion only in limited cases, most women must continue to seek illegal abortions, as previously. In this paper, we explore the historical context in which Chile’s 2017 bill was finally passed. We then analyze the legislative debate leading up to the passage of the law. Lastly, we present the results of a community-based participatory research effort carried out by an alliance between feminist and human rights organizations. Chile’s law was passed almost two years ago, and this research shows the persistence of various obstacles that hinder women’s access to legal abortion, such as the use of conscientious objection, a lack of trained health care providers, and a lack information for women.

Aborto: una clara oportunidad para legislar

Lidia Casas Becerra, Lieta Vivaldi Macho

Este artículo mostrará los caminos que se han seguido, con variadas perspectivas, para
reformar la regulación del aborto en Chile. Al cierre de la edición de este artículo, se están tramitando propuestas de ley en el Congreso para regular el aborto por causales y un proyecto de Código Penal que tuvo entre sus antecedentes el aborto por plazo, que está recogido en la reciente iniciativa de un grupo de senadores. En este escenario, hasta el momento el Ejecutivo no ha dado luces sobre si avanzará con un proyecto propio o adherirá a algunos de los existentes. Cada una de estas posibilidades presenta interrogantes y múltiples desafíos para obtener su aprobación. Pero la principal pregunta es si tendrán como encuadre los derechos de las mujeres y la autonomía reproductiva.

Abortion in Chile: the practice under a restrictive regime

Lidia Casas Becerra, Lieta Vivaldi Macho

This article examines, from a human rights perspective, the experience of women, and the practicesof health care providers regarding abortion in Chile. Most abortions, as high as 100,000 a year, are obtainedsurreptitiously and clandestinely, and income and connections play a key role. The illegality of abortioncorrelates strongly with vulnerability, feelings of guilt and loneliness, fear of prosecution, physical andpsychological harm, and social ostracism. Moreover, the absolute legal ban on abortion has a chilling effect onhealth care providers and endangers women’s lives and health. Although misoprostol use has significantlyhelped to prevent greater harm and enhance women’s agency, a ban on sales created a black market.Against this backdrop, feminists have taken action in aid of women. For instance, a feminist collectiveopened a telephone hotline,Linea Aborto Libre(Free Abortion Line), which has been crucial in informingwomen of the correct and safe use of misoprostol. Chile is at a crossroads. For the first time in 24 years,abortion law reform seems plausible, at least when the woman’s life or health is at risk and in cases of rapeand fetal anomalies incompatible with life. The political scenario is unfolding as we write. Congressionalapproval does not mean automatic enactment of a new law; a constitutional challenge is highly likely andwill have to be overcome.

Pregnancies and Fetal Anomalies Incompatible with Life in Chile: Arguments and Experiences in Advocating for Legal Reform

Lidia Casas Becerra, Lieta Vivaldi Macho

Abstract Chile allows abortion under no circumstances. Whether it’s fetal anomaly incompatible with life or congenital malformation resulting in little or no life expectancy, all Chilean women are expected to carry their pregnancies to term. In this context, in January 2015 the Chilean Congress began debating a bill to legalize abortion on three grounds, including fatal congenital malformation. The medical community, including midwives, has presented its views for and against, especially on how the law may affect clinical practices; in addition, women, many of whom have experienced a fatal congenital malformation diagnosis, have weighed in. This qualitative study draws on 22 semi-structured interviews with nine certified nurse-midwives, one neonatologist, nine obstetrician-gynecologists, one psychiatrist, one psychologist, and one sociologist who provide care during gestation, pregnancy, delivery, and postdelivery in the public and private sectors, plus three interviews with two women and the former partner of a woman who underwent the experience. These interviews starkly illustrate the plight facing women carrying nonviable fetuses, including women’s shock upon receiving the diagnosis, their feelings of bereavement and loss, and the clinical practices used in an attempt to ease their suffering under the weight of exceedingly difficult legal restrictions. These interviews confirmed that compelling women to carry nonviable fetuses to term violates their human rights. They also show that the chances of legislative change are real and that such change will present new challenges to the Chilean health care system.