“If men got pregnant, abortion would be legal,” read most of the posters hanging in Sao Paulo. In Rio de Janeiro, women gathered in front of City Hall, carrying flowers and a small coffin as a sign of mourning.
Under current law, abortion is only permitted in cases of rape, risk of maternal death, or if the fetus has anencephaly. If the bill is approved, a rape victim who suffers a miscarriage could face harsher penalties than her rapist, ranging from six to 20 years in prison.
The proposal to amend the Civil Code was presented by MP Cavalcante of former President Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party and has the support of influential evangelical churches.
“Lula da Silva sent a letter to evangelicals involved in the campaign saying he is against abortion. We want to see if he will veto it,” Cavalcante said. The government has already condemned this initiative. “This is very serious and represents a setback for women’s rights,” the Minister for Women’s Affairs said.