---

Chilean Constitutional Court Decree Halts Distribution of Abortifacient Plan B

By Gudrun Schultz

SANTIAGO, Chile, January 15, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A controversial program distributing the abortifacient morning-after pill free to girls as young as 14 was halted last Friday when the Constitutional Court declared the program was unconstitutional on a technicality, in the latest effort by opponents to block the measure pushed through by the government.

The court voted 6-4 that the distribution program violated the constitution because it was authorized by an administration body, the Associated Press reported Jan. 12. The ruling stated that the program must be approved by the legislature or by presidential decree before it would be valid under the constitution.

The distribution program has been strongly opposed by conservative lawmakers, as well as Catholic Church leaders. Thirty-two legislators requested the court to rule on the issue, saying the drug violates the country’s anti-abortion laws by acting as an abortifacient and also goes against parental rights by making the drug available to young girls without their parents’ knowledge.

While supporters of the emergency contraceptive claim it only prevents pregnancy from occuring, in fact the drug can cause an abortion in the earliest stages of pregnancy by preventing the embryo from attaching to the wall of the womb--just last week, drug manufacturers in New Zealand admitted the drug could act as an abortifacient.

The Constitutional Court did not address the abortifacient nature of the pill or the question of parental rights, making the decision solely on the technicality issue.

The government said President Michelle Bachelet, who supports the program, would issue the required decree--supporters of the measure want to avoid a legislative vote due to a lack of support in Congress.

Attorney for the legislators, Jorge Reyes, said the case would not end with a presidential decree. If a degree should be issued, he said, “We will go back to the court to object to other aspects of the program that we consider unconstitutional.”

While abortion in the predominantly Catholic country is illegal, efforts are underway to push through legislation decriminalizing abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

International organizations, including the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women, have been increasingly pressuring the country to legalize abortion over the past decade, as well as advocating for contraceptive programs and greater support for homosexuality.

See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:

After Long Battle, Chilean Court Legalizes Abortifacient ‘Morning After Pill’
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/nov/06111307.html

Chilean Court Reverses Its Decision and Allows Abortifacient ‘Morning After Pill’
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/sep/06092605.html

Chilean Supreme Court Orders Sale of Abortifacient Morning-After Pill
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05120202.html

Plan B Manufacturer for New Zealand Admits it Causes Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jan/07010309.html

 Back to Top

---

MORE NEWS: LifeSiteNews.com Home Page  Last 10 Days   Archives   Special Reports

Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.