Millions of people have marched for life through the streets of Argentina, calling on the country’s political leaders not to liberalise its abortion laws.
According to media reports, 3.6 million people rallied in over 100 different cities last week, under the slogan ‘protect them both’.
It is the country’s second mass demonstration in recent months, with tens of thousands of people taking part in pro-life marches on the National Day of the Unborn Child on 25 March.
‘Protect both lives’
During last week’s march, demonstrators carried signs with slogans such as: “I’m an atheist, this is not about religion” and “I want to be born, my life is in your hands”.
Organisers said they were marching because “we consider that it’s inadmissible that in a democracy we’re debating the possibility of eliminating human beings at will”.
“We rally because we want to protect both lives since, whether it’s done at the mother’s request or not, abortion causes the woman and those around her irreparable damage, becoming an attack against society’s common good”.
On demand
In Argentina, abortion is currently illegal unless the life of the mother is in danger or in cases of rape. But for the first time in the country’s history, an abortion Bill is due to be debated in the senate.
It seeks to allow for abortion on demand up to 14 weeks, and up to birth in cases of ‘genetic malformation’ of the child.
Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri has already said that he will not veto the Bill. A vote is set to take place on 13 June.
UN pressure resisted
Pro-lifers in El Salvador recently celebrated after attempts to push through pro-abortion legislation failed.
No new legislation was introduced, despite pressure from the United Nations to legalise abortion.
In the Republic of Ireland, an abortion referendum is taking place today.
Voters are being asked whether or not to repeal the Irish constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which pledges to “defend and vindicate” the equal right to life of the unborn and the mother, “as far as practicable”.