BUENOS AIRES: Argentine lawmakers on Thursday (Friday in Manila) backed a bill legalizing abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, a historic step for Pope Francis’s Catholic homeland, although the measure must still pass through the Senate. Thousands of abortion rights activists cheered and hugged outside the Congress as the lower house Chamber of Deputies passed the bill by 129 votes to 125. The bill will now go before the Senate, where it was thought likely to face an uphill battle to become law. Street revelriesIn the streets outside the Congress abortion rights activists wildly cheered and danced, while many anti-abortion demonstrators hugged each other and wept. When women become lawmakers and enter Congress “they defend the rights of women,” she said.

Source: Manila Times June 15, 2018 16:52 UTC