Barriga da lei: consequências do ativismo religioso para a atenção humanizada ao abortamento

Abstract

Abortion is currently permitted by the Brazilian Penal Code in two situations: pregnancy due to rape and life-threatening pregnancy for the mother. This paper analyzes the content of the Laws 478/2007 (Child’s Statute) and 5069/2013, which deals with the criminalization of abortion, and identifies the consequences of the possible approval that these propositions would have on health care for women victims of sexual violence in Brazil. In order to do so, a bibliographic research was carried out in order to draw a historical-social panorama of women in the context of abortion, permeating gender-based violence, rape and the functioning of legal abortion services in Brazil. Documentary research was also carried out on the website of the Chamber of Deputies, due to the need of analyzing the processing of said projects. In the results, one can see exacerbated religious activism practiced by members of the parliament in Brazil, especially members who were elected because of their religious beliefs, whose moral and religious dogmas actively influence the political decision making in Brazil and in the abortion issue. Legal abortion services, supported by Ministry of Health, represent essential assistance to women who were raped, safe abortion, psychological and social counseling, and rights orientation. The laws 478/2007 and 5069/2013 represent the cease of this assistance, by regressing on the sexual and reproductive rights of women already established by national norms.