Thousands have gathered in major Brazilian cities to protest against a new bill that equates all abortions after week 22 with murder.
Today, abortions are allowed in Brazil if the pregnancy is the result of rape, if the woman's life is at risk, or if the foetus has a brain defect. In other cases, abortion is punishable by up to four years' imprisonment.
However, in the new proposal, backed by an evangelical Christian group, all abortions are described as murder if performed after week 22, when the foetus can survive outside the womb. According to the proposal, abortion could be punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment – twice as long as the sentence for rape.
The law is feared to hit hard on girls and young rape victims who discover their pregnancy late or dare not report the assault they have suffered.
The proposal has been fast-tracked and rushed through committees, leading to protests from progressives. A date for the vote in the lower house has not yet been set.
