Horizontes Antropológicos (Jan 2007)

Access to abortion and secular liberties

  • Roberto Arriada Lorea,
  • Michele Andréa Markowitz

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. se

Abstract

Read online

In Brazil, facing an issue like abortion requires a secular perspective since the freedom of conscience assured by the Federal Constitution places upon the State the need to regard not only different viewpoints of different religions, but more specifically assure the right to diversity existing within a same religion, as well as the right to exercise different views from those of the hierarchy of his/her own religion. As such, there is no legal barrier for the decriminalization of abortion in the country. It is up to legislators to reform the present law and decriminalize abortion, assuming the commitments Brazil has assumed with international human-rights organizations, thus assuring the efficacy of civil liberties.

Keywords