The Current Status of Abortion Laws in Latin America: Prospects and Strategies for Change

See, in general, Henshaw S.K. , “Induced Abortion: A World Review,” 22 Family Planning Perspectives 76 (1990).

Decree No. 200 of December 23, 1989, amending the Health Law. An English translation appears in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 17, 1990, Section 240.

The Penal Code (Amendment) Act 1989. This Act is reproduced in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 16, 1989, pp. 32–33.

Criminal Code (Amendment) Law, 1985, February 22, 1985. This Law is reproduced in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 12, 1985, pp. 34–35.

Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 14, 1987, p. 34.

Criminal Code, October 6, 1988. Relevant provisions of this Code are reproduced in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 15, 1988, pp. 330–331.

Penal Code (Amendment) Act, 1991, October 11, 1991.

Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1983. Relevant provisions of this Act are reproduced in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol.10, 1983, p. 63–66.

Mother-Child Health Act, May 10, 1986. An English translation appears in Current Laws of the Republic of Korea, pp. 3456(1)-(7) and in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 17, 1990, Section 240.

Penal Code, July 1, 1984. Relevant provisions of this Code are reproduced in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 14, 1987, p. 39.

Criminal Code Amendment Act, August 2, 1983. Relevant provisions of this Act are reproduced in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 10, 1983, pp. 67–69.

Law No. 2827, May 24, 1983. A translation of relevant provisions of this Law appears in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 10, 1983, pp. 29–32.

Act No. 85-05 on health protection and promotion, February 16, 1985. An English translation of relevant provisions of this Act appears in 36 International Digest of Health Legislation 909 (1985).

Henshaw , supra note 1.

On August 24, 1989 Chile amended its Health Code to contain the following language: “No action may be executed that has as its goal the inducement of abortion” (Act No. 18826, Diario Oficial, No. 33474, September 15, 1989). Previously, abortions could be performed to save the life of a pregnant woman.

For discussions of abortion in Latin America, see Madlener K. Hispano-Amerika Ųbersicht (Argentinien, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexiko, Peru),” in Schwangerschaftsabbruch im internationalen Vergleich, Eser A. and Koch H.-G. , eds. (Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft: Baden-Baden, Germany, 1989), Vol. 2, pp. 1187–1296; and Viel VB ., “Latin America,” in International Handbook on Abortion, Sachdev P. , ed. (Greenwood Press: Westport, Conn., 1988), pp. 317–332.

Id., Sachdev p . 324.

Madlener , supra, note 16, pp. 1276–1277.

Viel V. , supra, note 16, p. 326.

Guerrero O.A. , “The Perspectives for Legislative Reform on Abortion in Argentina;” M. Rodriguez, “Some Considerations about Reproductive Rights in Argentina.” All of the papers mentioned in this article will appear in a volume sponsored by Catholics for a Free Choice.

Lopez Hierro L.A. , “Uruguay and the Law about Abortion: A Case of Advances and Paralysis.”

de Andrade L. Barstad Linhares , “The Situation of Abortion in Brazil;” Kyriakos N. , “Reproductive Health—The Changes that May Occur in Light of the Brazilian Constitution.”

Leal L.M. , “Depenalization of Abortion: The Prospect in Mexico;” Begne P. , “Health and Abortion (The Case of Mexico);” Duarte A.E.P. , “Abortion in Mexican Law.”

Decree No. 13-85, February 26, 1985 (La Gaceta, Diario Oficial de la Repúublica de Honduras, No. 24564, March 8, 1985, p.2). An English summary appears in the Annual Review of Population Law, Vol. 12, 1985, p. 35.

Cáodigo Penal of 1991, reprinted in Normas Legales, No. 178, 1991, p. 7.

OrganicLawNo.9, July 5, 1985. An English translation of this Law appears in 36 International Digest of Health Legislation 614 (1985).

Law No. 6/84, May 11, 1984. An English summary of this Law appears in 35 International Digest of Health Legislation 768 (1984).

See Actualidad Juridica Aranzadi, No. 86, January 28, 1993, p. 1.

See Plata M.I. , “New Challenges for the Women's Convention: Reproductive Rights in Colombia.”