Women’s rights activists in Argentina’s capital, as well as health advocates and physicians, are celebrating a momentous advancement in promoting the reproductive rights of women. On June 23rd the Buenos Aires legislature approved a new law that guarantees women and girls free access to contraceptives and information on reproductive health. The groundbreaking law, which sparked protests predominantly from the politically powerful Catholic schools and churches, aims to prevent unwanted pregnancies and botched abortions. An estimated 1,300 abortions, although illegal under Argentina law, are practiced daily in Buenos Aires, and 16 percent of babies in Argentina are born to women between ages 10 and 19. According to a study by the Latin American Centre on Health and Women, 48 percent of women in Latin America do not use any form of contraception, and 37 percent of the pregnancies are unwanted.
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