The introduction of emergency contraception that can be purchased without a prescription has greatly pleased feminist groups. Argentine women say it is a sign of progress in their country.

Argentina's health ministry said the measure would help avoid unintended pregnancies. Introducing access to the morning-after pill will help remove the "difficulties in accessing health services, contraceptives and education" that some people face.

"This removes an important barrier to access. People can have this method of contraception as a support," Valeria Isla, director of sexual and reproductive health at the health ministry, told Reuters in an interview.

Vanessa Gagliardi, leader of the feminist group Juntas y a la Izquierda, said the movement would help "de-stigmatise" the morning-after pill in the country. It is noteworthy that, according to 2019 data from the Ministry of Health, around three thousand girls and teenage girls under the age of 15 become mothers every year in Argentina. Worse still, most of them have been raped by a family member or close relative.

The Argentine pro-life group DerguiXlaVida called the decision worrying, accusing the government of "promoting terrible measures".

It is important to remember that Argentina is a country where the Catholic Church is still very influential and remains powerful. When the government made abortion legal up to the 14th week of pregnancy in 2020, defenders of life from conception took to the streets. The country was engulfed by protests and riots.

However, it turns out that it is possible to be a very religious state and to care about women's health at the same time.

Source: bbc.news