Argentina become the first major Latin American country to legalise abortion

Argentina could become the first major Latin American nation to legalise abortion.

On Sunday, the country’s president, Alberto Fernández, announced plans to send a bill to legalise abortion to congress within the next 10 days.

Mr Fernández, who was sworn in as Argentina’s president in December, explained his intentions in his first annual address to congress.

Abortion happens, it’s a fact, he said.

A state should protect citizens in general and women in particular. And in the 21st Century, every society needs to respect the individual choice of its members to decide freely about their bodies.

If congress approves the bill, Argentina will become the first major Latin American country to legalise abortion, joining Cuba, Guyana and Uruguay.

Abortion is largely illegal across Latin America aside from in cases of rape or if the pregnancy will endanger the life of the pregnant woman.