Colombian Court Legalizes Some AbortionsBy JUAN FORERO
Published: May 12, 2006BOGOTÁ, Colombia, May 11 — Colombia's highest court has legalized abortion under limited circumstances. The decision is expected to embolden women's rights groups across Latin America to use courts in their countries to try to roll back some of the world's most stringent abortion laws.
In a 5-to-3 decision handed down late Wednesday, the Constitutional Court overturned Colombia's complete ban on abortion and ruled that the procedure would be permitted when the life of a mother was in danger or the fetus was expected to die or in cases of rape or incest. Women's rights organizations in places as varied as Argentina and New York hailed the ruling.
"This is a triumph for Colombian and Latin American women," said Mónica Roa, a lawyer in Bogotá who brought the suit on the grounds that by banning abortion, Colombia was violating its own commitments to international human rights treaties ensuring a woman's right to life and health.
The court, explaining its decision Thursday night, said the life of a fetus could not be put ahead of the life of a mother and called the complete abortion ban "disproportionate" and "irrational."
Advocates of abortion rights say both arguments are applicable to other Latin American countries as well.
