Abortion Legalization in Argentina

Abstract

In Argentina, abortion had been prohibited by law since 1886. The movement to legalize abortion began after the transition to civilian rule, but it took 37 years for it to become legal. At the center of the movement was the National Campaign for the Right to Legal, Safe and Free Abortion, and the rise of the LGBT rights movement and the Ni Una Menos movement also gave momentum to the movement to legalize abortion. The Parliamentary debate began under the Macri administration, but opposition from Catholics and Pentecostals prevented legalization, and the abortion law was passed in 2020 under the Fernández administration. Currently, the number of health and medical facilities offering abortion procedures is increasing, but there are significant regional differences in the number of facilities. The pro-life movement calling for the repeal of the abortion law has regained momentum under the Milei administration, which took office at the end of 2023, but the new government's priority is to rebuild the economy and cannot afford to address the abortion issue at this time.