Guatemala increases abortion penalty, bans same-sex marriage

Source: Associated Press

Guatemala increases abortion penalty, bans same-sex marriage

By SONIA PÉREZ D.
March 9, 2022

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan lawmakers have increased prison sentences for women who have abortions, bucking a recent trend in Latin America toward expanding access to the procedures.

As some of Latin America’s largest countries — Mexico, Argentina, Colombia — have expanded abortion access in the past two years, there remain countries where conservative religious trends continue to hold sway.

Late Tuesday — International Women’s Day — Guatemala’s Congress passed a “Protection of Life and Family” law that also targeted the LGBTQ community.

On Wednesday, which Guatemala’s Congress declared “Life and Family Day,” President Alejandro Giammattei said in a speech at the National Palace, “This event is an invitation to unite as Guatemalans to protect life from conception until natural death.”

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/health-colombia-caribbean-marriage-argentina-ee4725ec09087ec635c9522650111dc6