In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Brazilians rallied on Thursday against a controversial bill currently being debated in Congress. This bill seeks to equate abortion with homicide and proposes severe penalties of up to 20 years in prison for terminating a pregnancy after 22 weeks, even in cases where the pregnancy is the result of rape.
The bill was rapidly moved to the Chamber of Deputies by influential conservative lawmakers on Wednesday, bypassing committee discussions and inciting outrage among progressive groups throughout Brazil.
Protesters in Rio de Janeiro voiced their opposition by lighting candles and chanting slogans like "A girl is not a mother." Activist Vivian Nigri condemned lawmakers for valuing "the rights of the fetus" over "the rights of a child," arguing that forcing a child to carry a pregnancy from rape is indefensible.
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Currently, Brazilian law allows abortion in cases of rape, when the woman's life is at risk, or if the fetus has severe abnormalities. Outside of these exceptions, abortion is criminalized, with penalties of up to four years in prison.
The proposed bill, supported by a powerful evangelical group, classifies any abortion performed after 22 weeks as "simple homicide," asserting that the fetus is viable outside the womb at this stage. This includes pregnancies resulting from rape. The bill imposes severe penalties, ranging from six to 20 years in prison for abortions after this point, which is twice the penalty for rape itself.
Critics argue that such legislation disproportionately impacts young girls and rape victims, who may delay recognizing their pregnancy or fear reporting the crime due to social stigma or fear of retaliation.
Protests were not limited to Rio de Janeiro; similar demonstrations reportedly took place in other major cities such as Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Florianopolis, and were widely shared on social media platforms.
Currently, no specific date has been set for the bill's vote in the Chamber of Deputies, but the increasing public outcry and mobilization against the proposed legislation suggest a significant and contentious debate ahead in Brazilian politics and society.
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