Monday October 15, 2007
Uruguay Will Vote on Legalizing Abortion Tuesday
Pro-life leaders urge officials be contacted immediately
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
MONTEVIDEO, October 15, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Senate of Uruguay is scheduled to vote on a bill to legalize abortion Tuesday at 4:00 pm. The measure would legalize abortion in practically all circumstances during at least the first three months of pregnancy.
According to the Uruguayan radio station Espectador, the bill is currently expected to pass by the narrow margin of 16-14, although at least two senators among the opposition have recently refused to state their positions before their vote. The majority group in the Senate, the leftist Broad Front coalition, generally supports the measure, although some members have switched their positions and now oppose the bill.
Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez, who is also a member of the Broad Front, has consistently stated his opposition to legalizing abortion, and has promised to veto the legislation if it is passed by the national congress.
The bill allows abortion during the first three months of pregnancy for reasons ranging from the life of the mother to fetal deformities, and even social well-being and economic hardship. According to one report, after the third month abortions may only be done to preserve the mother's life or to eliminate a child with fetal deformities, although one analyst says that the bill will allow practically all abortions up to the ninth month.
The National Coordinating Roundtable for Life is scheduled to hold a march and protest today at 7 pm in the capital of Montevideo, which will proceed from the University of the Republic to Cagancha Plaza.
Contact Information:
Embassy of Uruguay in the United States
1913 I (Eye) Street, NW
Washington, DC, 20006
Phone: (202) 331-1313
Fax: (202) 331-8142
E-mail:
Embassy of Uruguay in Canada
130 Albert St. Suite 1905
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1P 5G4
Phone: (613) 234-2727, (613) 234-2937
Fax: (613) 233-4670
Email:
Contact information for Senators (thanks to ACI Prensa):
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