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Honduran Congress to set strong abortion laws ‘in stone’

The Honduran Congress has moved to set their strong abortion laws ‘in stone’ after a constitutional amendment was brought forward that would require three quarters of the Congress to vote in favour of changing the abortion law.

On Thursday 21st January, the Congress voted 88 to 28 in favour of measures that would require a majority, 96 out of 128 members of Congress, in order to modify the existing abortion law. Previously, constitutional amendments were permitted with a two-thirds majority, but this raising of the bar means that it will be very difficult for future legislators to change the law on abortion.

The requirement that there be a super-majority must undergo a second vote before it is ratified. The clear support displayed in the vote last Thursday however, makes it highly likely that the vote will pass.

While international media outlets have described legislation in the country as “prohibiting abortion in any circumstance”, local media have reported that data from the Honduran Social Security Institute shows that abortions appear to be performed in the country under an interpretation of the law to allow for abortion if a women’s life is at risk during a pregnancy.

‘Shield Against Abortion’

According to the Honduran Congress website, this move has been called the “Escudo Contra el Aborto en Honduras” – “Shield Against Abortion in Honduras”.

Mario Pérez, a lawmaker with the ruling party of President Juan Orlando Hernandez, proposed the measure last week, calling it a “constitutional lock” to prevent any future changes to the abortion law.

“Every human being has the right to life from the moment of conception,” said Mr Pérez.

Congresswoman Gloria Bonilla of the Liberal Party in Honduras said: “As a woman and a mother, I am in favour of life and against abortion, I want to speak on behalf of those who are in the mother’s womb and cannot be opposed”.

A small group of activists at the UN criticised the Honduran Congress, branding the Bill “alarming” and accused the country of “moving backwards” because it recognises the right to life of babies in the womb.

Abortion in Central and South America

The proposer of the Bill, Mario Pérez, explicitly said that his Bill was a response to the “the wave of constitutional reforms in Latin American countries, promoted by leftist governments led to legalize abortion, as happened in Argentina recently, and that cannot be allowed in Honduras”. 

Argentina, has recently loosened its legal protections for unborn babies. In December last year, Argentina’s Senate voted in favour of introducing abortion on demand into the country despite the widespread opposition to this move. Earlier in 2020, thousands joined in pro-life demonstrations, which, according to organisers, took place in across more than 500 cities in Argentina in opposition to a bill that would legalise abortion on demand.

Right To Life UK spokesperson, Catherine Robinson, said: “Predictably, most Western media is horrified at the thought that babies in the womb deserve legal protection and the suggestion that there might be anything wrong with abortion, so the uproar that this legislation has caused in other countries is hardly surprising.” 

Critical appealto protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill can still be defeated at Third Reading, but only with your help.

Dear reader,

As you already likely know, the Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill sadly passed Second Reading at the end of last month.

While it is very disappointing that the Bill passed Second Reading, an analysis published in The Independent shows that at least 36 MPs who supported the Bill did so only to allow further debate or because they had concerns that meant they won’t commit to supporting the Bill at Third Reading. Since then, our Public Affairs team has identified a number of other MPs who share these reservations.

With the vote passing by a margin of 55, just 28 MPs switching their stance to oppose the Bill would ensure it is defeated at Third Reading, so there is a clear path towards this Bill being defeated. We can still win this.

The assisted suicide lobby are fully aware that support for the Bill is very fragile. They will fight fiercely to prevent 28 MPs from switching their votes to oppose the Bill.

For the sake of the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable lives that will be put at risk, we must win the vote and defeat this dangerous Bill.

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Our campaign in the run-up to Second Reading was the biggest and most expensive we have ever run and so it has made a significant dent in our limited financial resources.

We are now working on an even bigger campaign to defeat this dangerous Bill at Third Reading.

To ensure we effectively defeat this extreme assisted suicide Bill, we are aiming to raise at least £100,000 by midnight this Sunday (15 December 2024).

Every donation, no matter the size, will mean YOU can make a crucial difference in saving vulnerable lives from this extreme law change.

Will you make a donation now to help protect vulnerable lives from this major threat?

Critical appealto protect vulnerable lives

Help stop three major anti-life threats.

The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill can still be defeated at Third Reading, but only with your help.