Chile - background information

Summary:   Chile’s legal situation since 1989 prohibits abortion in all cases. The lives of both mother and child are protected equally. Maternal mortality rates are the lowest in all of Latin America, and lower than in the U.S.  Chile has pro-life public policies, such as a child development program called Chile Crece Contigo which promotes the well-being of the child from conception up to age 5.  Chilean law designates March 25 as the Day of the Unborn Child and Adoption.

In recent years, a few Chilean legislators have put forward proposals to weaken this protective legislation by promoting modifications to allow for legal abortion in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape, to avoid a current or future risk to the mother’s life, and when the unborn child may suffer from a condition of “incompatibility of life” outside the womb. The current president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, has recently sent a proposal to congress calling for these three exceptions to be approved.

Much pressure has been brought to bear by outside groups and international institutions, such as Amnesty International, to support the Bachelet “limited” abortion proposal, which could then serve as a springboard to eventually legalize abortion in all cases and all stages.

There is a very vigorous public debate underway. The arguments are essentially the same as in the rest of the world.  The legislature will be taking up the abortion proposals this month. For more information: www.chileesvida.cl

Testimonies:  A number of moving personal testimonies by Chilean families, who in difficult circumstances chose life for their unborn child, have been circulating in social media.  One particular testimony, that of Bernardita Vial and her unborn child diagnosed with anencephaly, has received national and international attention. Her interview on CNN Chile (in Spanish) is particularly moving and powerful: http://www.cnnchile.com/noticia/2015/02/08/bernardita-vial-por-embarazo-inviable-estoy-asustada--pero-voy-a-darlo-todo-por-el    For an article in English about her testimony, see: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/mom-of-disabled-unborn-child-calls-out-chiles-president-for-targeting-her-b

Maternal Mortality Rates: The most complete information, statistics and analysis for Chile can be seen at the research site:  www.melisainstitute.com
 
International Protect Life Award:  In 2011, a coalition of leaders of pro-life/pro-family NGOs active at the level of the United Nations and in their respective countries awarded the people of Chile the International Protect Life Award because of Chile’s very low rate of maternal mortality, and its protection of the child before birth. The award letter mentioned the pro-life TV spots developed, funded, and aired on national TV, NOT by a pro-life organization, but by the government itself when it launched the Chile Crece Contigo child development/protection program.  To see the two exceptional TV spots:  http://4life4family.org/multi-media/