Chile Congress OKs bill to legalize abortion in some cases

Pro-abortion activist take part in a demonstration in front of the Constitutional Court where opposing parliamentarians presented arguments against the newly approved law that allows abortions under limited circumstances, in Santiago, Chile. The new law allows abortions in case of rape, the inviability of the fetus, or in the case that the mother's life is in danger. The banner the activists hold reads in Spanish "For the health and lives of women." (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) Pro-abortion activist take part in a demonstration in front of the Constitutional Court where opposing parliamentarians presented arguments against the newly approved law that allows abortions under limited circumstances, in Santiago, Chile. The new law allows abortions in case of rape, the inviability of the fetus, or in the case that the mother's life is in danger. The banner the activists hold reads in Spanish "For the health and lives of women." (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

By Associated Press August 3, 2017 2 min read

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – Chilean lawmakers have approved a bill that would legalize abortion in limited circumstances and end the socially conservative country’s status as the last in South America with a blanket ban on the procedure.

The measure approved late Wednesday allows abortions when a woman’s life is in danger, when a fetus is not viable and in cases of rape. President Michelle Bachelet, a physician and former head of U.N. Women, backs the bill and has said she will sign it into law.

It must still be approved by the Constitutional Tribunal, however, and opposition senators argue that the measure violates the constitution.

Chile legalized abortion for medical reasons in 1931, but the procedure was then banned under all circumstances during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

The bill’s passage comes as views continue to shift on social issues once considered taboo in the heavily Roman Catholic nation.