Colombia Commemorates Four Years of Legal Abortion with Demands for Full Implementation
The proposal establishes limits and criteria for the permanence of EPS Photo: iStock
TL;DR
- Feminist organizations celebrated the fourth anniversary of the ruling that decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks in Colombia.
- Protesters gathered in Bogotá, demanding the effective implementation of the ruling and the removal of barriers in the healthcare system.
- The C-055 ruling in 2022 decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks, a change from the previous C-355 ruling of 2006 which permitted it only under three specific conditions.
- Recent veto by Bogotá's mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, of a city council agreement (Acuerdo 340) is seen by some as potentially hindering access to abortion services.
- Activists identified issues such as 'hypermedicalization' and unnecessary psychiatric evaluations as barriers to accessing abortion.
- There are calls for strengthening healthcare professional training and ensuring territorial entities apply the guidelines equitably across the country.
- Organizations advocate for a complete decriminalization of abortion, removing all requirements beyond the pregnant person's will, even after 24 weeks.