To mark International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, La Mesa por la Vida y la Salud de las Mujeres in Colombia will be presenting their results of a perception survey conducted in 32 cities across the country. 65% of the population surveyed agreed that abortion should be legal in the three grounds laid out in the judgment of the Constitutional Court, in 2006. This means that abortion is recognised as a fundamental right of women:
- When the fetus has malformations incompatible with life outside the womb.
- When the life and health of women are at risk for the continuation of the pregnancy.
- When women become pregnant due to rape.
Among the findings of the study, 80% of those surveyed responded that they consider it vital that presidential candidates defend the rights of women, whilst more than 70% specifically considered it very important to defend sexual and reproductive rights. 50% of the people surveyed did not agree that women should go to jail for having an abortion, whilst 25% believed that women should go to jail. 62% of survey participants recognised abortion as solely a woman’s decision.
The results represent a great openness in Colombian society and sends a message of support to women who want to access the right to abortion across the country. In addition, the Bureau for the Lives and Health of Women have provided training to public officials in 19 regions of the country on the legal aspects of the right to abortion.
We will share the full length version of this survey when it is available online.