Thousands Protest Chilean Court Decision To Halt Government EC Program

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Abortion
Article Date: 25 Apr 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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An estimated 10,000 people marched in Santiago, Chile, on Tuesday to protest a court decision to end a national government program that provided no-cost emergency contraception to women and girls ages 14 and older, the Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 4/22).

Chilean Health Minister Maria Soledad Barria in September 2006 announced the government's plan to distribute EC (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/1/07). President Michelle Bachelet's administration said that the $25 price of EC in the country restricts access and discriminates against low-income women. Lawmakers opposed to the program challenged it in court, arguing that EC constitutes abortion, which is illegal in the country under any circumstance. The April 4 court decision, which effectively barred national health service distribution of EC, cannot be appealed, according to the Associated Press.

Barria said that the ban applies only to national health service clinics and not to cities. Some mayors have said they will distribute EC at no cost, the Associated Press reports. Alejandro Goic, head of Chile's Catholic Bishops Conference, said the national government is encouraging people to violate the court's order. Before Tuesday's large rally, small groups of advocates on both sides of the issue marched in Santiago (Associated Press, 4/22).

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