A national referendum on abortion took place in Portugal, Sunday, February 11. The referendum held by Prime Minister Jose Socrates’ socialist government asked: “Do you agree with the decriminalization of the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, in the first 10 weeks, in a legally authorized health establishment?”
Sixty percent of those who voted chose yes.
Daniela Mateus, 22, says that although she would never have an abortion herself, she voted to give women the right to a legal abortion “because many girls die from abortions as they don’t have the money to do it in another country. She says, “I voted yes because women should be free to make a choice.”
Until now, Portugal had some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the European Union, with only Malta, Ireland and Poland, having tougher laws. Until Sunday, a Portuguese woman could only undergo the procedure legally when the pregnancy was judged to pose a risk to her life or health, in case of a fetal malformation or when the pregnancy resulted from rape. Portugal is also the only member of the EU where women and their husbands or family members can be charged for undergoing or aiding in the procedure. Recently three women were jailed for half a year for having illegal abortions and the doctor who helped them was imprisoned for three years and a half. As well, official statistics estimate that in Portugal, 10,000 women are treated annually at hospitals for complications caused by illegal abortions.
Fátima Gonçalves, 22, says ” I voted yes, because many girls who get pregnant at 14 or 15 don’t have the mentality to raise children.” She says that the rich go to Spain for legal abortions while the poor pay doctors to do the operation in their homes. “Doctors charge up to 500 euros, more than the minimum salary.” She believes that many who voted “no” are hypocrites who actually profit from the black market of illegal abortions.” It is a business,” says Fatima.
This article was published Wednesday, February 14, 2007.
