Abortion lessons from Latin America

LA Times ^ | 3/21/6 | Marianne Mollmann

[Crackingham]

Abortion is illegal in most countries in Central and South America, though the law waives criminal penalties for women who have abortions in certain circumstances: after rape or incest or if their life or health is endangered by the pregnancy. Over the last five years, I have interviewed dozens of women and girls who faced unwanted pregnancies and had abortions in Argentina, Mexico and Peru, all countries that limit access to contraceptives, sex education and abortion. The most common tale I heard was one of desperation.

My experience in Latin America carrie with it three clear lessons for South Dakota.

Lesson 1: Outlawing abortion does not stop women from having them. "What do I care if abortion is legal or illegal?" Marcela E. told me in 2004 in Argentina, where abortion generally is banned. "If I have to do it, I have to do it." The 32-year-old mother of three had a clandestine abortion after her husband raped her.

A community organizer in Argentina told me: "You will not believe what women end up putting in their uteruses to abort." I wish I didn't.

Lesson 2: Providing limited exceptions to an abortion ban does little to improve access to safe abortions.

In reality very few, if any, women get such "non-punishable" abortions because there are no clear procedures. Fearing that they'd be charged with a crime, many of the women I interviewed who might have qualified for a legal abortion because they had been raped or because their health was endangered by the pregnancy did not dare to out themselves as potential abortion candidates. They went straight for the illegal and mostly unsafe back-alley abortions.

[bushinohio]

They don't stop other crimes either, so should we just do away with all laws? That is one of the lamest excuses I can think of for keeping abortion legal.

[a_different_conservative]

'If so many Latin American countries limit access to contraceptives, why do most Liberals want open borders?

Won't these newly-Amnestied voters who used to live in Latin America be more likely to work towards restricting access to contraceptives?'

Yes they will. They will then no longer be 'immigrants' but will morph into conservative 'haters'.

The left needs a never-ending supply of fascists in Amerikkka to be morally superior to even if the have to import them.

[The Great RJ]

The sad truth of the South Dakota anti-abortion law is that is will do absolutely nothing to stop or limit abortions in this state. The law will be immediately appealed prior to the July 1 implementation date and not enforced until the courts decide. The law is crudely written and based on recent legal precedent will not get beyond an appeals court let alone make it to the SCOTUS. In the exteremely slim chance it makes it to the SCOTUS I would expect a 5-4 turndown.

This bill was a mistake and will set the pro-life movement back not advance the cause. The good people of South Dakota will be left with the same abortion mills and a big legal bill.

[RipSawyer]

You don't believe a husband can rape a wife? Our law does.>>>>>>>>>>>

If my wife doesn't stop raping me I am going to report her! Someday...............

[cgk]

Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping!

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Pro-Life/Pro-Baby ping list...

[Dumb_Ox]

It's been said that Latin machismo keeps women in a weaker position than in Anglo countries, less able to avoid or otherwise postpone marital relations with their husbands. If true, this means that the South American situation is a poor analogy in the first place.

I'll also cite a Chilean commentor from Amy Welborn's Blog:

From third world country, with restrictive abortion law: Chile. We have no back alley abortion problem. I should know, since I'm a prosecution attorney.
We have abortions yes, but it is a very rare crime and certainly not a significative source of woman deaths. Every time a fetus is found in a dumpster (1 or 2 times a year), it is big news, so uncommon it is, and I don't remember any recent news story about woman found dead for abortions. Most unwanted pregnancies in Chile are among the poor, but there are many foundations working to help the mother and her child.
My point is Chile's experience with a restrictive abortion law demonstrate that poverty and back alley abortions are just excuses, to keep abortion legal.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!