Chile's Abortion Rights Face Imminent Threat Under Far-Right Presidential Frontrunner Jose Antonio Kast
The future of reproductive rights in Chile hangs in the balance as far-right presidential candidate Jose Antonio Kast, a staunch Catholic, appears poised for victory in the upcoming December runoff. His potential presidency signals a dramatic threat to the nation's gradually expanded abortion access, with concerns extending to contraception.
A Decades-Long Retreat on Reproductive Rights?
Chile's history with abortion is complex. Once completely banned under the 1973-1990 military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, it was partially decriminalized in 2017. This landmark change permitted abortion in specific circumstances: when the woman's life is at risk, in cases of fetal inviability, and after rape. However, Kast, a father of nine, aims not only to thwart further liberalization efforts proposed by the outgoing leftist Boric administration but also to roll back these existing exceptions. Such actions would represent the country's most significant retreat on reproductive freedoms in decades.
Kast, who famously states he's "Catholic first and politician second," maintains an unwavering stance against abortion, advocating for "life from conception to natural death." He has previously opposed the sale of morning-after pills and sought to repeal the three existing grounds for legal abortion. His coalition ally, Johannes Kaiser, an Orthodox Christian, also supports revisiting the issue of abortion after rape.
Public Opinion Versus Political Will
Despite the political momentum behind Kast's far-right coalition – fueled by anxieties over crime and migration that boosted their legislative influence in November’s general elections – public sentiment largely favors maintaining current abortion rights. Catalina Calderon, an advocacy director at the Women's Equality Center, warns of an "imminent threat to the reproductive rights of girls and women in Chile," highlighting risks to access for contraceptives, the morning-after pill, and abortion under the three exceptions, while blocking future legislative progress.
Even some citizens who prioritize security, like 21-year-old kindergarten teacher Abigail Mariqueo in Santiago, acknowledge the potential erosion of rights. Others, such as 52-year-old insurance saleswoman Anahi Salazar, express the need for choice despite religious family backgrounds, while also stressing the fight against teen pregnancy.
Beyond Legislation: The Threat of Budgetary Cuts
Constitutional law expert Claudia Sarmiento suggests that even without direct legislative battles, a Kast administration could curtail reproductive rights through budget cuts. Funding for state-funded medical and contraceptive programs, governed by the budget law, could be slashed under a broader austerity program. Sarmiento warns these cuts, while seemingly economic, could "disguise a very specific intention regarding women's sexual and reproductive rights."
The Reality of Clandestine Abortions
Activists reveal that even under previous leftist rule, access to legal terminations remained challenging. A source from the "With Friends and At Home" network, assisting Chilean women with abortions, noted that many avoid the state system due to fear of legal repercussions or social stigma. This network aids approximately 10,000 women annually, with a third having legal grounds but often facing misinformation or rejection from hospitals.
Since 2017, Chile's health ministry recorded just over 6,600 legal abortions, with rape being the least cited reason, except for girls under 14 where it accounted for over 99%. These statistics underscore the prevalence of clandestine abortions or procedures sought abroad. Further restrictions, like limiting morning-after pill sales or demanding criminal charges for rape victims seeking abortion, are feared to push even more women towards unsafe, illegal methods, exacerbating the trauma of sexual violence within a judicial system often perceived as re-victimizing.
A Regional Trend?
Should Chile reverse its abortion rights, it would align with a concerning trend in Latin America, where access to the procedure is already severely restricted in many countries. While some nations like Argentina (2020) have legalized abortion up to 14 weeks, and Mexico's Supreme Court (2021) ruled criminalization unconstitutional, others like Costa Rica (October) have recently limited access. Even in Argentina, political shifts under anti-abortion President Javier Milei have led to shortages in abortion pills and services.
The upcoming presidential runoff in Chile thus represents a pivotal moment for reproductive freedom, with the potential to significantly alter the landscape of women's healthcare for decades to come.