Thousands of Brazilians rallied on Thursday against a controversial bill being debated in Congress that would classify abortion as homicide and impose sentences of up to 20 years for terminating a pregnancy after 22 weeks, even in cases of rape.
Conservative lawmakers bypassed committee discussions and sent the bill directly to the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, sparking outrage from progressive groups.
In Rio de Janeiro, protesters lit candles and chanted, “A girl is not a mother.”
Activist Vivian Nigri criticized lawmakers for prioritizing “the right of the foetus” over “the rights of a child.”
“A child should not be forced to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape,” she told AFP.
