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First legal abortion in Colombia
Date: Friday, August 25, 2006
Source: BBC News
Author: Jeremy McDermott
DATELINE: Bogota
Colombia's first legal abortion has taken place after the deeply Catholic nation legalised the procedure in May... Read more
Abortion is only permitted in three cases - if the mother's life is in danger, if the foetus is badly deformed or if the pregnancy results from rape.
This case involved an 11-year-old girl who was raped by her stepfather.
Despite the change in the law, the girl's case had to go all the way to the constitutional court before an abortion was authorised.
The tale of the abuse the girl had endured at the hands of her stepfather filled the Colombian papers and news broadcasts for weeks.
The Catholic Church nonetheless condemned the abortion and protesters gathered outside the hospital to oppose the procedure.
The subject of abortion raises passions and tempers in Colombia.
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