National Campaign for the Right of Legal, Safe and Free Abortion

The National Campaign for the Right of Legal, Safe and Free Abortion (Campaña Nacional por el Derecho al Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuito) is an Argentine alliance of organizations and individuals that coordinates common actions to legalize abortion in the country. It was founded by Nina Brugo, Martha Rosenberg, Dora Coledesky, Dora Barrancos and Nelly Minyersky. The campaign emerged from the National Women's Encounters, an annual event held in Argentina since 1986, specifically from the 2003 and 2004 meetings. In 2003, in Rosario, the Workshop on Strategies for the Right to Abortion was held, and the traditional closing march used the slogan that would become the campaign's motto: "For the right to decide" and "Contraceptives to avoid abortion, legal abortion to avoid death." In May 2004, the group Strategies for the Right to Abortion, the Commission for the Right to Abortion, the Forum for Reproductive Rights, Women of the Left, Advanced Democracy, the Argentine Workers' Central and independent feminists organized a national meeting at the UBA Faculty of Social Sciences. In November 2004, they began collecting signatures in a corner of the National Congress. The campaign was launched on May 28, 2005 (International Day of Action for Women's Health), with 70 organizations nationwide. Its symbol is the green triangular handkerchief with the logo and motto printed in white. The green color was chosen as vacant (violet for feminism, red for the left, orange for Catholic organizations), and the handkerchief references the Grandmothers and Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. The campaign's approach involves transforming state systems and regulations, expressed in its motto: "Sexual education to decide, contraceptives to avoid abortion, legal abortion to avoid death." It advocates for changes in the education system (sex education programs) and the health system (guaranteeing free and easy access to contraceptives and legal abortion). One of its first public actions in 2005 was collecting 100,000 signatures, delivered on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to national deputies, accompanied by a march of 15,000 people. On June 13, 2018, the first vigil was held at the National Congress awaiting the Chamber of Deputies vote. On September 28, 2018, a "pañuelazo" was held for International Safe Abortion Day. On February 19, 2019, the Day of Green Action for the Right to Abortion was commemorated nationwide with a simultaneous federal "pañuelazo." On May 28, 2019, the campaign's 14th anniversary, simultaneous federal actions were held. The campaign has presented multiple bills for voluntary interruption of pregnancy: the first was drafted in 2006 and presented in the Chamber of Deputies in March 2007; in March 2010, the fourth presentation with over 60 signatures; in 2011, it did not reach a quorum; on March 6, 2018, the seventh presentation was debated on June 13, 2018, and approved by the Chamber of Deputies with 129 votes in favor and 125 against, but rejected by the Senate. On May 28, 2019, the eighth bill was presented with 71 signatures. The campaign's actions have been followed and imitated regionally and globally, with the green handkerchief adopted in Brazil in 2018 and marches in Mexico and other Latin American cities in August 2018. The campaign continues to operate through networks such as the Network of Health Professionals for the Right to Decide, the Network of University Chairs, the Network of Teachers, and Socorristas en Red, providing information and accompanying women. Its website provides information on IVE (voluntary interruption of pregnancy) and ILE (legal interruption of pregnancy) under Law 27.610, and a hotline 0800 222 3444.

The National Campaign for the Right of Legal, Safe and Free Abortion originated from the National Women's Encounters, an annual event held in Argentina since 1986. In the 2003 Encounter in Rosario, the Workshop on Strategies for the Right to Abortion was held, and the traditional closing march used the slogan that would become the campaign's motto: "For the right to decide" and "Contraceptives to avoid abortion, legal abortion to avoid death." In May 2004, the group Strategies for the Right to Abortion, formed by the Commission for the Right to Abortion, the Forum for Reproductive Rights, Women of the Left, Advanced Democracy, the Argentine Workers' Central and independent feminists, organized a national meeting at the UBA Faculty of Social Sciences to implement the initiatives from the Rosario Encounter. In November 2004, this group began collecting support signatures at a corner of the National Congress. The campaign was launched on May 28, 2005 (International Day of Action for Women's Health), initially composed of 70 organizations nationwide. Its symbol is the green triangular handkerchief with the logo and motto printed in white. The green color was chosen as a vacant color (violet is representative of feminism, red of the left, orange associated with Catholic organizations), and the handkerchief references the Grandmothers and Mothers of Plaza de Mayo. The campaign's objectives involve transforming state systems and regulations, expressed in its motto: "Sexual education to decide, contraceptives to avoid abortion, legal abortion to avoid death." It advocates for changes in the education system (sex education programs) and the health system (guaranteeing free and easy access to contraceptives and legal abortion based on "its democratic content and social justice, which seeks to ensure the enjoyment of human rights for women currently deprived of them"). One of the first public actions in 2005 was collecting 100,000 signatures, delivered on November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to national deputies, accompanied by a march of 15,000 people. On June 13, 2018, the first vigil was held at the National Congress awaiting the Chamber of Deputies vote. On September 28, 2018, a "pañuelazo" was held for International Safe Abortion Day. On February 19, 2019, the Day of Green Action for the Right to Abortion was commemorated nationwide with a simultaneous federal "pañuelazo." On May 28, 2019, the campaign's 14th anniversary, simultaneous federal actions were held. Regarding legislative projects, during 2006 the campaign worked on the first bill for Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy, collectively drafted at the national plenary in Rosario. The bill was presented in the Chamber of Deputies in March 2007, establishing mainly decriminalization and legalization. In March 2010, the bill was presented for the fourth time with over 60 signatures from deputies. In 2011, the bill did not reach a quorum in the Chamber of Deputies. On March 6, 2018, the campaign presented the seventh bill for voluntary interruption of pregnancy, which was debated by deputies on June 13, 2018. The Chamber of Deputies approved the IVE law with 129 votes in favor and 125 against, but the law did not gain Senate approval. On May 28, 2019, marking 14 years since the campaign's creation, an eighth IVE bill was presented with signatures from 71 national deputies. The campaign's actions have been followed, imitated and repeated in different countries regionally and globally; the use of the green handkerchief has signified adherence to the movement's positions, supporting actions in Argentina and making visible similar demands for legislative changes in each country. Demonstrations, sit-ins and marches in support have been recorded. The green handkerchief symbol was adopted in Brazil in 2018. In Mexico City and other Latin American cities, in August 2018, there were also marches of women with green handkerchiefs for abortion, in solidarity with the mobilizations in Argentina. Other cities worldwide where events were recorded include La Paz and London. The campaign continues to operate through various networks, including the Network of Health Professionals for the Right to Decide, the Network of University Chairs on Comprehensive Sexual Education and the Right to Abortion, the Network of Teachers for the Right to Legal, Safe and Free Abortion, and Socorristas en Red (feminists who abort). These networks provide information following World Health Organization protocols and accompany women. The campaign's website provides information on IVE (voluntary interruption of pregnancy) and ILE (legal interruption of pregnancy) under Law 27.610, and a hotline 0800 222 3444.

• 2019

  Day of Green Action on February 19; eighth bill presented on May 28 with 71 signatures.

• 2018

  Seventh bill presented on March 6; approved by Chamber of Deputies on June 13 (129-125) but rejected by Senate; first vigil at Congress; pañuelazo on September 28.

• 2011

  Bill fails to reach quorum in the Chamber of Deputies.

• 2010

  Fourth bill presented with over 60 signatures.

• 2007

  First bill presented in the Chamber of Deputies in March.

• 2006

  First bill for Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy drafted collectively in Rosario.

• 2005

  Campaign launched on May 28 with 70 organizations; 100,000 signatures delivered on November 25.

• 2004

  National meeting at UBA Faculty of Social Sciences; signature collection begins at National Congress.

• 2003

  Workshop on Strategies for the Right to Abortion held at the National Women's Encounter in Rosario; slogan adopted.

A grassroots feminist alliance advocating for reproductive rights and social justice through legal reform.

Product categories. Legal abortion advocacy · Sexual education programs · Contraceptive access · Green handkerchief (pañuelo verde)

1. 1Inicio - Campaña Nacional por el Derecho al Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuitoabortolegal.com.ar
2. 2Red de Profesionales archivos - Campaña Nacional por el Derecho al Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuitoabortolegal.com.ar
3. 3National Campaign for the Right of Legal, Safe and Free Abortionwikidata.org
4. 4Campaña Nacional por el Derecho al Aborto Legal, Seguro y Gratuitoes.wikipedia.org