Ecuador's Ombudsman to Back Abortion Bill in Case of Rape

On Friday, Ecuador's feminist organizations delivered to the Ombudsman's Office a bill to guarantee access to abortion in cases of rape.

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Ombudsman Zaida Rovira assured the bill will be presented to Parliament on Jun. 28 to be discussed.

"The Constitutional Court has already said that it is unconstitutional to penalize women for having an abortion when the pregnancy results from rape," said Surkuna director Ana Cristina Vera.

She also encouraged the government to ensure the necessary conditions so that women, girls, and adolescents can exercise their right to abortion and timely access to this procedure.

The proposal was completed in the framework of a national dialogue held on May 29, in which 101 feminist organizations from 24 provinces of the country took part.

Abortion has been legal in Ecuador since 1938, but only if the woman's life or health is in danger, and/or when the pregnancy results from the rape of a woman with a "mental disability."

In April 2021, the Constitutional Court widened the grounds to all women and girls who were victims of rape; however, women's rights organizations condemned the lack of conditions and the reluctance of some institutions to materialize this right.