"Let it be law": chronicle of the massive march that brought the claim for legal abortion to Congress

Mariana Iglesias

02/19/2020 - 21:45

• Clarín.com
• Society

Congress, once again, was surrounded by the green tide that claims the legalization of abortion, a claim that became massive after the rejection in the Senate in August 2018. That is why the insistence that it be treated again and converted in law But this time with a difference: the executive branch will present its own project, which is added to that of the National Campaign for the Safe and Free Legal Abortion that presented its own for the eighth time in May 2019 and retains parliamentary status. There were claims in this regard, especially from the left, that it fears that the official project will allow certain obstacles, such as conscientious objection, that private clinics do not do so, or that there will be counselors that expand access.

The speeches of feminist referents, union groups, educators, doctors, politicians, followed each other on a stage set before the Congress, in front of a crowded square , from five o'clock. There they passed La Poderosa, Evita Movement, Romero Brest Student Center, GEN Youth, Popular Unit, Teachers of the Carlos Pellegrini School, Commission of Women of Madygraf, Bread and Roses, Together and to the left, Mala Junta, among many others . There were 53 speakers.

But the most anticipated moment occurred at eight o'clock, when it was late afternoon, then three activists of the Chilean collective LasTesis, who performed their performance of "The rapist are you" , a song that became a fighting anthem throughout the world.

"The patriarchate is a judge, who judges us for being born, and our punishment is the violence that you don't see ... and the fault was not mine or where I was or how he dressed, and the fault was not mine if he took care of me, nor how he lived ... the rapist was you, the oppressor was you. It's the Congress. Where they vote for clandestine abortion , "he sang the whole square in chorus while he was following the choreography of The Thesis, dressed in red romper.

Then, the handkerchief. All, the thousands of green scarves of the Campaign, those who say " sex education to decide, contraceptives not to abort, legal abortion not to die, " high up. Image that was replicated in major cities across the country making it a federal handkerchief.

Then, another song: " They fear us because we are not afraid . And fear? Let it burn!" . And then: " It's going to fall! It's going to fall!" , and " It's going to be law! It's going to be law!" . And more music.

Thousands of women demonstrated on Wednesday in front of Congress to claim for legal abortion.Photo Juano Tesone

Shortly before, referents of the Campaign read a statement: "The project of Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy is the result of the consensus of hundreds of feminist organizations of women and dissidents, together with political, social, trade union, artistic, academic, rights organizations humans, among others. In 2019 he presented himself for the eighth time with the lessons learned from the 2018 parliamentary debate. "

"The project guarantees the right to integral health to women, girls, adolescents, dissidents, throughout the national territory. Otherwise, territorial discrimination will be perpetuated, by class condition, ethnicity and gender identity to more than half of the population. the population, "the document continues." We think education with a gender perspective as a liberating democratic practice . More than thirteen years after the enactment of Law 26150 created by the Comprehensive Sexual Education Program we reaffirm that our slogan is a requirement of the national government and also to provincial governments. "

And they described their project, which "guarantees access to abortion for women and people with the ability to volunteer voluntarily until week 14 of gestation. After week 14, some cause will be necessary : risk to life, to health or violation.Without a deadline, or judicial complaint ... it takes the definition of health of the World Health Organization: the complete physical, mental and social well-being.It establishes and defines the right to abortion as a Human Right, which In practice, it must be guaranteed within 5 days in which the woman or pregnant person requests the abortion.It guarantees access to the right to abortion for girls, boys and adolescents.In all cases the best interests of the child must prevail. person can be replaced in the exercise of the right to decide. "

And two points that, they say, are fundamental: that "access to information about abortion must be relevant, accurate, secular, up-to-date and scientific. In the language or language in which the pregnant person communicates and in accessible formats. The woman or pregnant person can request an advice, but it is not obligatory nor necessary condition for the accomplishment of the abortion ". And that "all social works, health systems and prepaid must guarantee the practice for free and mandatory, must be incorporated into the Mandatory Medical Plan ."

"It seems good to us that the Executive presents a project, but they talk about public health and we talk about women's rights. We do not penalize women but those who hinder access. Our project does not speak of conscientious objection, and we will never accept institutional conscientious objection. Access must be in public and private centers, "says Clarín Nina Brugo, one of the co-founders of the Campaign.

Something similar says Vanina Biasi, national leader of the Workers Party and the Plenary of Workers, to Clarín and then from the stage: "Legal abortion has to be accessible throughout the health system, public and private. Social works they have to guarantee and must be in the Obligatory Medical Plan. In Argentina there are six million workers, and many are treated by social work. Hospitals alone do not reach. That is not guaranteed in the whole health system is a request of the Church , which goes on to say that pregnant women do not own their bodies. "

Members of the Chilean feminist co-active LasTesis guided the performance of "The rapist is you", this Wednesday in front of the Congress. Photo Juano Tesone

Marina de Las Rojas, of the Nuevo MAS, also returned to the same thing: "There are two projects, the one that proposes to protect women and pregnant bodies and their right to decide. And the one that comes from above, which calls us to lower the scarves and accept consensuses with dinosaurs, so that abortion does not apply. The Rojas we say our project is that of the Campaign ... not to conscientious objection, not to delays, not to interference with anti-rights . secular, scientific and feminist. Girls not mothers! Legal abortion and that the Church does not get involved. "

Little is known about the official project, as Nina Brugo says, "it is under seven locks," but rumors say it admits conscientious objection and is only done in the public health system.

Meanwhile, and out of these differences, thousands of women, especially young people and groups of students, sang again and again " legal abortion, in the hospital ...". They wore their faces painted green, their scarves, their posters: "Neither force abortion nor force birth, right to decide."

"We are the granddaughters of the witches who could not burn," said the muscled green Lucia Boscaroli, 13, a student of Pellegrini: "We are in the streets to claim for the rights of women. Abortion has to be legal for no more women die in clandestine abortions . I am sure it will be law, "says the green-lipped teenager. He is with Silvia, his mother, a doctor. "It is a pleasure to come with her, she has been with me since seventh grade. The girls give us energy to continue. And I bring her because I am convinced that motherhood should always be chosen. Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium always bring risks. Motherhood does not can be imposed. "

Thousands of women in front of Congress for Safe and Free Legal Abortion. Photo: Emmanuel Fernández

Jessica Jaramillo is also green. He has it in his hoops, in his handkerchief, in his shirt. She is 25 years old, she is Colombian, and she has lived in Argentina for four years, where she studies special education: "Abortion cannot continue to be penalized as in my country. We need comprehensive sex education, we hope it is law because Argentina has always been a pioneer in the gender struggle, and we have to stop with the dead by hiding everywhere, "says Clarin .

Long and red braids, Sofía Rótolo is 17 years old and is in the square with her classmates from a Catholic secondary school in Parque Avellaneda: "We are in the streets to demand comprehensive sexuality education, to make this green tide visible, and abortion has to be legal for us to stop dying. Those of us who go to Catholic schools do not access the information. The State has to guarantee it. "

The 19F is the Day of Green Action because two years ago the Congress had also been surrounded to demand that the issue be addressed. It was treated and not approved. This year it is known that President Alberto Fernández will ask for his treatment on March 1, at the opening of the legislative sessions. There will then be several projects to discuss. The urgent thing, that thousands shouted on Wednesday in the square, is "Let it be law!" .