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WORLD NEWS Saturday 12 december 2020

Argentina’s lower house approves bill legalizing abortion

By ALMUDENA CALATRAVA wears the green scarf de-
Associated Press manding to decide, to
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina those who never lower their
(AP) — Lawmakers in Ar- arms: May abortion be le-
gentina’s lower house on gal and free! Let it be law!”
Friday passed a bill that Lospennato said.
would legalize elective But lawmakers from several
abortions to the 14th week parties have argued that
of pregnancy, a propos- abortions would be a viola-
al from President Alberto tion of the American Con-
Fernández in response to vention on Human Rights,
long-sought demands from which they say takes pre-
women’s rights activists cedence over the the na-
in the homeland of Pope tional Constitution and that
Francis. establishes that the right to
The bill still needs approval life should be protected by
from the country’s Senate law, “in general, from the
in a debate expected be- moment of conception.”
fore the end of the year. Opposition legislator Gra-
The proposed law was ap- ciela Camaño equated
proved in a 131-117 vote legalizing abortion to “the
with six abstentions after a lack of political capacity to
marathon debate that ex- Abortion-rights activists rally outside Congress as lawmakers debate a bill on its legalization, in solve society’s problems.”
tended from Thursday into Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020. If passed in the Senate, a
the early hours of Friday Associated Press traditionally more conser-
morning. Some of its back- restrictive abortion laws. less clear in the country’s died during unsafe, clan- vative chamber, abortions
ers were lawmakers in the Mexico City, Cuba and Senate. destine procedures in Ar- would be possible beyond
opposition. Demonstrators Uruguay are among the Two years ago, during the gentina since 1983, and the 14th week if the preg-
in favor of decriminalizing few places in the region administration of more con- about 38,000 women are nancy is the result of rape
abortion, who had spent where women can un- servative President Mauri- hospitalized every year be- or if it endangers the per-
the night outside the con- dergo abortions during the cio Macri, the upper house cause of botched proce- son carrying the fetus.
gress building in Buenos first 12 weeks of pregnancy voted against a similar bill dures conducted in secret, Those below the age of 16
Aires, erupted with joy and regardless of the circum- to legalize abortion after it according to the govern- would exercise “their rights
embraced each other as stances. Currently, many was narrowly approved by ment. through their legal repre-
they listened to the parlia- women who have an abor- the lower house The bill approved Friday fol- sentatives” and can seek
mentary speaker reading tion in Argentina, as well Ahead of Thursday’s de- lows more than a decade “legal assistance” in cases
the vote’s results on screens. as people who assist them bate, the Roman Catholic of campaigning by the of “conflict of interest.”
Many of them wore face with the procedure, can Church had appealed to National Campaign for the In hopes of winning more
masks in the green color face prosecution. Exemp- legislators for “a second of Right to Free and Safe Le- votes, legislators who sup-
that has become a symbol tions are only considered reflection on what respect gal Abortion. port the bill made last-
for their movement. in cases of rape or if preg- for life means,” echoing the Speaking minutes before minute changes to the text
Hundreds of meters (yards) nancy poses a risk to the position of Pope Francis, an the congressonal debate that would allow private
away, not far from the par- mother’s health. Argentine, that abortion ended, Silvia Lospennato, clinics in which all medical
liament building, hundreds Before getting elected one is part of today’s “throw- one of the opposition law- workers oppose abortion
of opponents dressed in year ago, Fernández had away culture” that doesn’t makers who backed the rights to refrain from pro-
light blue and carrying the promised to push for mak- respect the dignity of the ruling party’s initiative, said viding the procedure. Such
national flag deplored the ing abortion voluntary and unborn, the weak or elder- it was time “to finish writing clinics, though, would be
result, with some shedding cost-free. ly. the rights and move on to required to refer women to
tears. Latin America has While the bill passed the Several thousand women the stage of equality.” another facility that does
some of the world’s most lower house, the outlook is seeking abortions have “To each woman who abortion procedures.q

Cuba’s president to drop its dual currency system Jan. 1

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba will Government officials for post-Soviet economic crisis
unify its monetary system several years had conced- in the 1990s.
on New Year’s Day, Presi- ed the difficulties of having Over time, the communist
dent Miguel Díaz-Canel the two currencies and dif- government used the two
announced Thursday eve- ferent exchange rates, but currencies to set extremely
ning, closing the door on they made no move to im- low prices for goods and
more than 25 years with pose a reorganization be- services considered basic
two national currencies in cause of worries about the rights and extremely high
circulation. potential negative impact, prices for others consid-
Díaz-Canel said in a na- including inflation. ered luxuries, creating dis-
tional radio and television Most Cubans have been tortions that hindered eco-
broadcast that the coun- paid in the regular peso, nomic growth. It also bred
try will revert to using its which is worth about four resentment at Cubans who
peso, which has an official cents. The stronger cur- worked in tourism and had A worker shows a wad of Cuban pesos in Havana, Cuba, Friday,
exchange rate of 24 for a rency was introduced as access to the stronger cur- Dec. 11, 2020.
U.S. dollar. It will drop the a replacement for the dol- rency. Cuba is suffering a Associated Press
convertible peso, which is lars traded on the black severe economic crisis aris- economy and sanctions Donald Trump to pressure
worth about $1. market during the island’s ing from its unproductive imposed by U.S. President the government.q