Popular consultation to convene a referendum against decriminalization of abortion

Last updated

A popular consultation to convene a referendum on repealing the law on decriminalization of abortion was held in Uruguay on 23 June 2013. The proposal failed to muster the required popular support.

Contents

Events

In 2012, Uruguay decriminalized abortion. Many politicians and advocacy groups protested its legalization. [1] The positions varied across the political spectrum. [2]

Only 8.92% of eligible voters supported the referendum which did not meet the required threshold. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Initiative</span> Concept in political science

In political science, an initiative is a means by which a petition signed by a certain number of registered voters can force a government to choose either to enact a law or hold a public vote in the legislature in what is called indirect initiative, or under direct initiative, where the proposition is put to a plebiscite or referendum, in what is called a Popular initiated Referendum or citizen-initiated referendum.

Abortion in Ireland is regulated by the Health Act 2018. Abortion is permitted in Ireland during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, and later in cases where the pregnant woman's life or health is at risk, or in the cases of a fatal foetal abnormality. Abortion services commenced on 1 January 2019, following its legalisation by the aforementioned Act, which became law on 20 December 2018. Previously, the 8th Constitutional Amendment had given the life of the unborn foetus the same value as that of its mother, but the 36th constitutional amendment, approved by referendum in May 2018, replaced this with a clause permitting the Oireachtas (parliament) to legislate for the termination of pregnancies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Canadian federal election</span> 38th Canadian federal election

The 2004 Canadian federal election was held on June 28, 2004, to elect members to the House of Commons of Canada of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority but was able to continue in office as a minority government after the election. This was the first election contested by the newly amalgamated Conservative Party of Canada, after it was formed by the two right-of-centre parties, the Progressive Conservative Party and the Canadian Alliance.

The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act 1983 was an amendment to the Constitution of Ireland which inserted a subsection recognising the equal right to life of the pregnant woman and the unborn. Abortion had been subject to criminal penalty in Ireland since at least 1861; the amendment ensured that legislation or judicial interpretation would be restricted to allowing abortion in circumstances where the life of a pregnant woman was at risk. It was approved by referendum on 7 September 1983 and signed into law on 7 October 1983. In 2018, it was repealed by referendum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Referendums in Italy</span>

A referendum, in the Italian legal system is a request directed to the whole electorate to express their view on a determined question. It is the main instrument of direct democracy in Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Portuguese abortion referendum</span>

On 28 June 1998 a referendum on a new abortion law was conducted in Portugal; it was the second national referendum in the Portuguese history and the first after the 1974 Carnation Revolution. The law was proposed by the Portuguese Communist Party and it decriminalized abortion during the first ten weeks of pregnancy and was considered by the left as the only way to put an end to the estimated 20 to 50 thousand illegal abortions in the country. The law was approved in the Assembly of the Republic through a majority of the center-left and left-wing parties, but an agreement between the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party parties leaders led to the referendum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broad Front (Uruguay)</span> Political party in Uruguay

The Broad Front is a left-wing political coalition from Uruguay. It was the ruling party of Uruguay from 2005 to 2020 and has produced two presidents: José Mujica (2010–2015) and Tabaré Vázquez. Since 1999, it has been the largest party in Uruguay's General Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Portuguese abortion referendum</span>

An abortion referendum took place in Portugal on 11 February 2007, to decide whether to legalise abortion up to ten weeks. The referendum was the fulfillment of an election pledge by the governing Socialist Party of Prime Minister José Sócrates.

Abortion in Switzerland is legal during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, upon condition of counseling, for women who state that they are in distress. It is also legal with medical indications – threat of severe physical or psychological damage to the woman – at any later time. Switzerland is among the developed nations with the lowest rates of abortions and unwanted pregnancies.

Since 2021, abortion is no longer a crime in Mexico, although its legalisation varies by state. On 7 September 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court unanimously ruled that penalising abortion is unconstitutional, setting an important precedent across the whole country. Before 2019, abortion had been severely restricted outside of Mexico City, where it was legalized on-request in 2007. As of June 2022, abortion is available on request to any woman during the first twelve weeks of a pregnancy in Mexico City and the states of Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Coahuila, Colima, Baja California, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo. However, even in states where abortion is legal, there continue to be women in pre-trial detention for murder due to the spontaneous miscarriage of a pregnancy induced by rape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drug liberalization</span> Process of reducing drug prohibition laws

Drug liberalization is a drug policy process of decriminalizing or legalizing the use or sale of prohibited drugs. Variations of drug liberalization include: drug legalization, drug re-legalization and drug decriminalization. Proponents of drug liberalization may favor a regulatory regime for the production, marketing, and distribution of some or all currently illegal drugs in a manner analogous to that for alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.

Abortion in Uruguay is legal on request before twelve weeks of gestation, after a five-day reflection period. Abortion has been legalized in Uruguay since 2012. Uruguay is one of only four countries in South America where abortion is legal on request; the other three are Argentina, Guyana and Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in Colombia</span>

Abortion in Colombia is legal on demand and without restrictions up to the 24th week of pregnancy, due to a ruling by the Constitutional Court on February 21, 2022. Later in pregnancy, it is only allowed in cases of risk of death to the mother, fetal malformation, or rape, according to a Constitutional Court ruling in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abortion in Portugal</span> Overview of the legality and prevalence of abortions in Portugal

Abortion laws in Portugal were liberalized on April 10, 2007, allowing an elective abortion to be provided if a woman's pregnancy has not exceeded its tenth week. There is a three-day waiting period for abortions. President Aníbal Cavaco Silva ratified the law allowing abortion, recommending nevertheless that measures should be taken to ensure abortion is the last resort. Despite the liberalization of the laws, as of a 2011 survey, many doctors were refusing to perform abortions – which they are allowed to do under a conscientious objection clause. Abortions at later stages are allowed for specific reasons, such as risk to woman's health reasons, rape and other sexual crimes, or fetal malformation; with restrictions increasing gradually at 12, 16 and 24 weeks.

Abortion in Cuba is legal and available upon request, which is rare in Latin America because of widespread Catholic influence. It is unlikely that the rest of Latin America will soon follow the Cuban model as politicians, social commentators, and church officials all tend to oppose abortion, citing reasons of religion and morality. Dr. Sosa Marin of the National Commission for Family Planning has stated that "the right to abort is the right of women and their partners."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Uruguay</span> Use of cannabis in Uruguay

Cannabis is legal in Uruguay, and is one of the most widely used drugs in the nation.

Twelve national referendums were held in Switzerland during 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Wisconsin</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in Wisconsin, U.S.

Cannabis in Wisconsin is illegal for recreational use. Possession of any amount is punishable by up to 6 months in prison and a $1000 fine for a first offense. A second offense is punished as a felony with up to 3.5 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. However, several municipalities and counties in Wisconsin have decriminalized or lessened penalties for minor possession offenses. Medical use is legal only in the form of low-THC cannabis oil.

Abortion in Louisiana is illegal in most cases, but decriminalized in the city of New Orleans, as of August 1, 2022.

Cotidiano Mujer is a Uruguayan feminist collective based in Montevideo. It has published a newspaper, as well as books and conference proceedings. The group has also presented a radio show and podcast.

References

  1. "Reserved diagnosis". Brecha. 8 March 2013.
  2. "Like giving birth". Brecha. 5 April 2013.
  3. Resultados provisionales Escrutinio Primario al 27/06/13 16:15.