"A Girl Is Not a Mother": Thousands Rally Against Brazil Controversial New Abortion Bill

Photo : AFP

In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Brazilians gathered in protest on Thursday against a contentious bill currently under debate in Congress. This bill proposes to equate abortion with homicide and introduces severe penalties of up to 20 years in prison for terminating a pregnancy after 22 weeks, regardless of whether the pregnancy resulted from rape.

The bill was swiftly advanced to the Chamber of Deputies by powerful conservative lawmakers on Wednesday, bypassing committee discussions and sparking outrage among progressive groups across Brazil.

Protesters in Rio de Janeiro expressed their dissent by lighting candles and chanting slogans such as "A girl is not a mother." Vivian Nigri, an activist, criticized lawmakers for prioritizing "the rights of the fetus" over "the rights of a child," emphasizing that forcing a child to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape is unjustifiable.

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Under current Brazilian law, abortion is not punishable in cases of rape and is also permitted when the woman's life is at risk or if the fetus has severe abnormalities. However, outside of these exceptions, abortion is criminalized and can lead to imprisonment for up to four years.

The proposed bill, backed by a influential evangelical group, categorizes any abortion performed after 22 weeks of pregnancy as "simple homicide," considering the fetus viable outside the womb at this stage. This includes cases of pregnancy resulting from rape. The bill mandates harsh penalties ranging from six to 20 years in prison for performing abortions after this point, which is double the penalty for the crime of rape itself.

Critics argue that such legislation disproportionately affects young girls and victims of rape, who may delay recognizing their pregnancy or fear reporting the crime due to social stigma or fear of reprisal.

The protests were not confined to Rio de Janeiro alone; similar demonstrations reportedly took place in other major cities such as Sao Paulo, Brasilia, and Florianopolis, as shared widely on social media platforms.

As of now, no specific date has been set for the bill to be voted on in the Chamber of Deputies, but the growing public outcry and mobilization against the proposed legislation indicate a significant and contentious debate ahead in Brazilian politics and society.