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Stir in Argentina

Visit Rebecca Gomperts to Argentina sparks abortion debate.

On December 8, 2004, Rebecca Gomperts visited Argentina on the invitation of Noemi Oliveto of the party Selfdetermination & Freedom.

The visit sparked a stir amid city lawmakers after a row in the hall of the Cultural center of San Martin in Buenos Aires, where she was speaking at a conference on December 10. Anti-abortion extremists tried to disturb the conference and were pushing and beating pro-choice activists. After a while the police had to intervene. Because of the clash, the director of the Cultural Center decided to cancel the rest of conference planned for the next day. But it should not be possible that a small group of anti-abortion rights protesters were able to prevent the human right to free expression and undermine a democratic debate about the consequences of illegal abortion in Argentina. Fortunately, an alternative accomodation was found and the conference could continue without further disturbances.
In Argentine, abortion is forbidden and punishable by prison, except when the pregnancy is caused by a rape of a woman with mental illness or when the mother's life is in risk and it cannot be resolved in other ways. In these two cases, the judge first has to give permission for the abortion. However, the extreme delays caused by the court system makes abortion even in these rare cases impossible, because the pregnancy is too advanced by the time the judge makes his decision.

Each year, approximately 400,000 abortions are done in illegal and unsafe circumstances in Argentina. In 2000 some 79,000 hospital admissions due to complications caused by abortions practiced in unsanitary conditions were registered. Of these, around 16,000 women suffer serious permanent physical damage. Each day at least 2 women die unnecessary because of improperly performed abortions.

As everywhere it is women without financial means who suffer from the injustice done by the restrictive abortion laws. Women with money can afford to pay for a doctor who is willing to perform safe abortions for at least 500 USD.
In Argentina more then 40% of the population lives under the poverty threshold.

Media coverage Argentina

Pagina 12
Denuncia contra Gomperts
Gomperts pudo hablar
Una cruzada con escala en el San Martín
“En la Argentina se trata muy mal a las mujeres

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    argentina riot

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    rebecca in argentina 2

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  • How can I do an abortion?

    The best and safest way a woman can do an abortion herself until the 9th week of pregnancy is with the use of two medicines called Mifepristone (also known as the abortion pill, RU 486, Mifegyn, Mifeprex), and Misoprostol (also known as Cytotec, Arthrotec, Oxaprost , Cyprostol, Mibetec, Prostokos or Misotrol).
    A medical abortion done this way has a success rate of more than 97%. If you live in a country where there is no access to safe abortion services and you would like to obtain a medical abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol, please go to Women on Web. This is a online medical abortion help service that refers to a doctor who can provide you with a medical abortion.
    A woman can also do an abortion herself until the 9th week of pregnancy with only the use of Misoprostol.

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