Urgent Action outcome: Legal abortion closer than ever

In March 2020, Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez publicly committed to present a bill to Congress to legalise abortion before the year’s end. On 17 November 2020, he fulfilled this commitment by tabling a bill for the legalisation of abortion before the Argentinian Congress. The bill is now subject to congressional debate and voting, which is expected to take place between November 2020 and February 2021. Amnesty International will continue to actively and decisively campaign to ensure both chambers vote in favour of the bill and abortions are finally legal in Argentina.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

On 17 November, President Alberto Fernandez officially tabled a bill to legalise abortion in Argentina. This means that the proposal will soon be debated and voted on in the lower house of Congress (the house of deputies) before passing onto the Senate. The vote in the lower house is expected to happen this year while the vote in the Senate might run into 2021 as the bill will be included in the agenda of Congress' extraordinary sessions, in accordance to the parliamentary procedure rules. 

Amnesty International will continue the global campaign to ensure the bill passes in both chambers. 

Mariela Belski, Executive Director of Amnesty International Argentina says “Activism and the unwavering efforts of the women’s movement have led to this historic moment: today abortion is a central issue on the political agenda. The president has kept his word and has presented a bill to legalize abortion in Argentina. Now Congress must rise to the occasion and not miss the opportunity to recognize the rights of women, girls and others who can become pregnant to make free decisions about their bodies”.