Abortion is a crime in Peru, as in all Latin American countries except Cuba and Puerto Rico. Unborn babies are protected from the moment of conception by the constitutions of these countries or laws, as well as by the American Convention of Human Rights, also known as the Pact of San Jose. The people of Latin America, no less than their elected representatives, are overwhelmingly pro-life. Faced with this level of popular opposition, the pro-abortion movement has long sought a backdoor way to “legalize” abortion.
A Favorite Tactic
One of their favorite tactics has been to claim that any abortion that goes unpunished is a “legal” abortion. Since the law in some Latin American countries does not always impose a penalty for abortion, this claim has succeeded in confusing the issue to some degree.
Now they feel it is time for pro-abortion politicians to take a decisive step. Since they have failed to pass pro-abortion bills in Latin American congresses, they are now proposing “protocols of emergency gynecological attention” as an express way to “legalize” abortion These are written so as to medically authorize the performance of a “therapeutic abortion” in very limited, restricted circumstances where the mother’s health is said to be in grave danger. Once such a “protocol” is in place, the abortion provision is gradually widened in practice. Soon, using the World Health Organization’s definition of “health,” all abortions become “therapeutic” abortions. The constitutional prohibitions on abortion are rendered impotent.
A New Tactic
We see this new and dangerous tactic being used in my own country of Peru. On June 18, a public audience entitled “Therapeutic Abortion in Peru” was scheduled in the Peruvian Congress building. We were surprised that the Health Minister, Dr. Carlos Vallejos Sologuren, who claims to be opposed to abortion, is offering the opening lecture. Unbeknownst to many, some weeks ago Minister Vallejos privately presented an initiative to the Prime Minister to form a “Technical Commission” in order to write the “protocol” for “therapeutic” abortions performed on unborn babies less than 22 weeks gestation.
“Therapeutic Abortion in Peru”
“Therapeutic Abortion in Peru” was organized by Peruvian Congressman Robles to “discuss the issue” of therapeutic abortion. There will be little actual discussion, however, since all of the speakers invited to the event are pro-abortion, including representatives of Flora Tristan, “Observatory of Sexual and Reproductive Rights” and PROMSEX. All of these organizations relentlessly promote abortion on demand. Susana Chavez, a member of Flora Tristan, for instance, has appeared many times in the media not only promoting this “protocol” but also many other attempts to legalize abortion over the last 15 years.
Attorney Jeanette Llaja, speaker of DEMUS, is also on the roster. Llaja is a long-time player in the game of excuses to decriminalize abortion. DEMUS’s claim to fame is that, among several feminist organizations, it presented the case of Karen Llantoy to the Human Rights Commission. Llantoy was a young woman with an encephalic baby who was refused an abortion in a public hospital in Lima. The Center for Reproductive Rights is presenting this case in all the Latin American countries where they lobby for legal abortion, arguing that the forbidden procedure was a “therapeutic” abortion.
“I am against abortion, but…
Abortion is not a popular issue in Peru. It is still not politically correct to promote abortion. Minister Vallejos, who proposed the “Technical Commission” to the Prime Minister, and who will give the opening address at the June 18 event, has made strong efforts to avoid being identified as a pro-abortion politician, He has said many times he is against abortion, but his actions speak louder than words. For instance, he has stated repeatedly that the Morning After Pill is not abortifacient. Vallejos is just one example of the road to the culture of death taken by so many Latin American leaders, a road already traveled by leaders in Spain, Argentina, Colombia and many others countries. The leaders start by saying they are worried about women’s lives. Their next step is to label any abortion as “therapeutic.” Soon enough, even the pretense of a pro-life stance is thrown out the window.
The Health Vice-Minister, Dr. José Caldéron Ibérico, has been even less subtle. A few weeks ago, a resolution penned at his desk was disseminated and a scandal broke out. The director of a public hospital had approved a “protocol of therapeutic abortion,” an action which obviously disobeyed the standing law. Calderon countermanded this protocol not because he is against abortion but because this particular protocol did not have a legal leg to stand on. Calderon and others wish to ensure that when a “therapeutic abortion protocol” is approved that it will stand up to legal scrutiny.
The pro-abortion movement is not interested in any case in particular, but rather they only want to ensure the creation of some form of “legal” abortion. This is the game of excuses. They will keep working this angle until abortion on demand becomes a right.
How can the forthcoming “protocol” be opposed in Peru and other countries? Peruvian Criminal Law says that an abortion has no penalty only “when it is the only way to save the mother’s life or to avoid a grave and permanent damage.” It does not say that abortion is not a crime in these cases. It clearly is. Either an act is a crime or it is not. There is no middle ground. And abortion is a crime in Peru. This aside, there is no justification whatsoever under Peruvian law for the government to offer abortion services, as it now apparently intends to do.
The media campaign may have confused the public, but legislative circles have no such excuse. According to the law, it is not possible to normalize a crime. This “protocol” contradicts the fundamental levels of the law, like the Constitution and the Criminal Code.
Important Pro-Life Argument
But perhaps the most important pro-life argument is that this “protocol” is not necessary for honest doctors. These are the doctors who are now solving the “hard cases” not by offering clandestine abortions, but by trying to save both the mother and her baby. Instead of being given the “protocol,” they need more resources to provide quality medical care in the event of high-risk pregnancies. Using abortion to escape a risky pregnancy is mediocre medicine, the kind that is practiced without any respect for human life.
It is evident Minister Vallejos is attempting to bluff the public. He knows abortion is not popular in Peru. Vallejos recently stated in a Peruvian magazine that he hopes the Prime Minister puts together a Commission to approve the consensual “protocol.” As far as who will be on the Commission, we don’t have any surprises ahead of us. They will be the same radical pro-abortion “experts” he will join in Congress on June 18.
Editor’s note: Due to pro-life protests, the June 18 meeting was canceled.
