Women move forward

A new awakening of humanity is in sightd

Dear friends.
Today, a new milestone in Latin America's history has been reached: thanks to the inexhaustible struggle, started in the 70s, carried out by several generations of women in Argentina, the right of women to have full autonomy over their bodies has been approved and turned into law, the first territory of deconstruction of machismo. We are talking about the Law on the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy, approved in a historic session after a long debate.
We salute the Argentinean Humanists who have actively participated in this epic conquest, mobilized during all this time in brotherhood with thousands of other women, regardless of their origin, as well as all those who continue to do so in their countries.
Unsafe abortion, defined by the World Health Organization as "a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical standard, or both", has become a serious public health problem, due to its fatal consequences.
Thanks to the constancy of the organized work of thousands of women throughout Argentina, the first step is taken to end clandestine abortions. Hard data indicate that year after year, all over the world, at least one out of every four pregnancies is terminated - regardless of the legal and health situation of abortion in each country. This has led to about 47,000 women dying from clandestine abortions in 2017. In Latin America, this type of abortion accounts for 24% of all deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth, and in many countries of Sub-Saharan Africa it amounts to 30-40%, ranking as the third cause of maternal death in the world.
It should also be noted that attempts to prohibit or restrict the termination of pregnancies have not meant that in practical terms the number of clandestine abortions has actually been reduced, but have led to women and pregnant women throughout the world having to resort to life-threatening measures.
Without a doubt, this is a great step for the struggle of women, raised from the revolt and organization of feminists throughout the world. But there is still a long way to go, either for the implementation of the Law in Argentina or for its establishment in the other brother countries, an aspiration that will not cease to gain strength by following the example and perseverance of the Argentines who have achieved it. "Sexual education to decide, contraceptives to not abort, legal abortion to not die", will continue to be heard in the streets
Today, the Future looks brighter. Today, many will dream of the next battle to continue conquering new Rights. Today, we come a little closer to making the Human Being ─como we propose lxs Humanistas─ the true Central Value.
Peace, Force and Joy for all!