Uruguay abortion law will not go to referendum

Uruguay abortion law will not go to referendum
Associated Press
Posted on June 23, 2013 at 11:02 PM
Updated Monday, Jun 24 at 4:34 AM

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — The most liberal abortion law in South America withstood a challenge Sunday as Uruguayan opponents failed to attract enough votes in a consultation ballot to force a national referendum on repealing it.

The law authorizing elective abortions in the first three months of pregnancy was narrowly passed by Congress in October, and independent groups and some members of the right-wing Colorado and centrist National parties have been campaigning to overturn the measure.

Opponents needed 655,000 voters, a quarter of Uruguay's electorate, to cast ballots Sunday calling for a referendum. But with nearly all votes counted late Sunday, the electoral council said on its website that only 226,653 people participated.

Feminist groups and abortion-rights advocates celebrated.

"The fact that it wasn't enough for a referendum clearly shows that the Uruguayan society is willing to continue moving forward," the activist group Woman and Health said in a statement.

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