In a historic decision, the Constitutional Court has decriminalized abortion if it is performed in the first 24 weeks. The first thing to say is that women do not abort for pleasure. It is a very difficult decision and it is not a planning method either. When a woman decides to abort, she does it because she, surely, is in a situation with no way out.
The underlying issue has to do with the health of women in Colombia. Thousands of botched abortions are performed each year. That, of course, causes many deaths. Women with resources have a way to have an abortion in acceptable conditions, but the vast majority do not have a way to have an abortion in conditions that do not put their health and life at risk.
I have always been pro-abortion, but I have my doubts about allowing abortion until the 24th week. Not being an expert or a doctor, but reading about the subject, a 24-month-old fetus, in my opinion, is already a person.
I assume that the Court carefully studied the issue that has not divided the country into two but into three. The pro-abortion, the anti-abortion and those of us who, like me, are pro-abortion, but who think that 24 weeks is a long time.
It is not a religious issue, because I have always thought that the State cannot continue to make a crime of what the church considers a sin. However, the Court’s ruling is not, as some would have us believe, that abortion is an obligation. According to DANE, pregnancy in minors is skyrocketing. And many of them because they have been sexually assaulted by their parents or guardians; that is, people within your close circle.
Abortion in the country has become another cause of social inequality. Let me explain, if women have resources, they perform abortions in optimal health conditions, but if they do not have resources, they do so putting their health and lives at risk. That inequality, of course, is not fair. From now on, health providers will have to perform abortions with all the necessary conditions to guarantee women’s health.
There remains, however, the possibility for doctors to exercise conscientious objection on a personal basis. In other words, a health institution as a legal entity cannot make the decision not to perform abortions, but doctors can. How difficult this issue for a prayerful and prudish society.
Despite my doubts about the 24 weeks, without a doubt this decision, after giving women the vote in 1957, is the most important to equalize the rights of women and men.
Many years will pass before this country assimilates this decision of the Constitutional Court. For now, the debate is open. I celebrate that women who abort can do so without committing any crime or in poor health. Finally, I am impressed that men think as if they are the ones who have to make a decision that only women can make about their bodies.