Hundreds of women marched in Rio de Janeiro on Friday to demand the legalisation of abortion in Brazil.
The march followed a breakthrough for abortion supporters in neighboring Argentina, where the Lower House of Congress approved a Bill this month that would legalise elective abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
Carrying banners reading “rich (women) abort but the poor die” and chanting slogans in support of abortion legalisation, the protesters in Rio marched from the State Assembly to the city council. “A woman should not be forced to be a mother” said Tina Tigri, a producer of cultural events who has two children and participated in the protest.
In August, Brazil’s Lower House will debate abortion in a public audience. The Congress’ decision will help the Supreme Court decide on a case presented last year, when a woman filed a petition to abort because a new child would emotionally and financially affect her family.
