Chile’s Constitutional Council, currently dominated by conservative members, is reviewing the inclusion of the “right to life of the unborn” in the new Magna Carta.
A popular initiative of norm (IPN) has obtained enough votes to be debated in the plenary, potentially paving the way for stricter restrictions on abortion rights.
The “Every Life Counts” project, which received over 10,000 telematic votes, aims to provide a more detailed interpretation of the “right to life” already present in the preliminary draft of the constitution under the chapter on “Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.”
The proposed norm states, “The dignity and life of every human being is inviolable from the beginning of their existence until their natural death.
The Constitution protects and fully respects the life of the unborn child…” The Constitutional Council will discuss this popular proposal.
The initiative is supported by a group affiliated with Fundación Chile Siempre, a youth organization established over a decade ago.
As mentioned on their website, their objectives include promoting youth leadership in advocating for a free market economy, protecting the family, and banning abortion, among other ideals.
The IPN argues, “It is essential to recognize the right to life for all individuals, without distinction.”
This implies acknowledging every person’s inviolable dignity “from the moment of their natural existence until death.”
Chile’s current law on voluntary termination of pregnancy, in effect since 2017, permits abortion only in cases of maternal risk, fetal non-viability, or rape.
With 22 out of 50 councilors, the conservative wing holds significant influence in the Constitutional Council.
They possess veto power over any proposals regarding the content of the new Fundamental Law, which will be subject to a plebiscite on December 17.
Thus far, only 10 out of 1,292 popular initiatives of norm presented during the process have secured the necessary 10,000 telematic votes to be discussed in the Council.
Open to all citizens, the voting period will conclude at 23:59 hours this Friday.
The majority of approved IPNs address issues traditionally associated with conservative forces, such as recognizing national symbols or safeguarding current private pension funds.