Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Moves to Equate Abortion with Homicide: A Controversial Decision
In a highly contentious move, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has approved the urgent discussion of Bill 1904/2024, which aims to equate abortion with homicide. This decision bypasses the usual legislative process, thrusting the bill directly to a plenary vote without committee review. The Speaker of the Chamber, Arthur Lira from the Progressive Party, placed the matter on the agenda unexpectedly, without informing federal deputies or disclosing the bill's number beforehand. Arthur Lira's actions have sparked outrage among progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups. He conducted the urgency approval through a symbolic vote—a method where individual votes are not recorded electronically—lasting a mere 23 seconds. Typically, symbolic voting is reserved for matters with broad consensus, raising questions about the transparency and democratic integrity of this decision. Bill 1904/2024 proposes amendments to the Penal Code, making the penalties for simple homicide applica...
