Argentina lived an historic day on December 30. In fact, after years of struggle, the Senate legalized voluntary abortion until the fetus turned 14 weeks. 38 senators voted in favour of the bill, while 29 voted against. There was also one abstention. It is a claim to the feminist movement, and on that day thousands of people have gathered on the streets to celebrate the decision. "Despite being thousands of miles away, I lived a moment full of excitement with my brother and an Argentine friend who lives here," Bego Martínez said. Resident Professor in the Argentine city of Necoechea and activist activist of the National Campaign for Legal, Safe and Free Abortion. "My sister has lived in Hernani for 18 years and my nephews also live here. My mother was born in Eibar and I have half a Basque family," he explained.

The project was promoted by President Alberto Fernández, but, as has been said, feminist groups and movements have been betting on the legalization of abortion for years. "I say forcefully that what he has done for all of this has been the feminist movement, and not the government. It is true that Fernández put it on the political agenda, but the victory is ours, that of the feminist movement."

Furthermore, this is the second occasion on which this issue is discussed in Argentina and, therefore, they celebrate it with great joy and with tears in their eyes. Specifically, in 2018, a text similar to that produced by a civil platform was approved by Congress, which, in contrast, was not approved by the Senate, according to parliamentary sources. Mauritius Macri was at the head of the presidency at the time, and he had not pronounced himself in favour of abortion. A year later, however, the current president, Fernández, announced in an election campaign that he would push for a new law. And the same thing has been done: the Senate has passed the bill and voluntary abortion has been legalized. Lehendakari is a Catholic, but, in his view, ‘all citizens must be governed’. In addition, Fernández has pointed out that the legalization of abortion represents an "improvement" of Argentine society, which "extends the rights of women and guarantees public health".

However, the feminist movement argues that this step forward has been yours. According to Martínez, "the project that was presented in the Senate in 2018 is the one that has been approved today, and we have done so. I was there two years ago, in Congress, and it was a hard blow not to give recognition," said Martínez. "Not only that, this goes beyond; the struggle began with the return of democracy in Argentina and on March 8, 1984 the international women's day was celebrated for the first time. They started to see the first banners that day, and now, 30 years later, we've got what we asked for."

Martinez recalled that the National Meeting of Women began every year in 1986, the year in which the Governing Council was held. "Since then, we have met in different cities, towns and places across the country, we give talks, we do awareness-raising, we give explanations, we work on sex education and equality," he added. In this way, although legal abortion saw the light 10 days ago, this preparatory work has long come true. "The feminist movement has been betting on it for years and the green tide has been increasing; that is, more and more of us are demanding legal, safe and free abortion," he added.

In addition, the Argentine has made it clear that the green tide does not use the concept of women to refer to a law or a right such as that of women. "We do not mean that the right to abortion is only for women; we mean that it is for everyone who has management capacity."

Legal, safe and free

The National Campaign for Legal, Safe and Free Abortion calls for the same, for the right to abortion to be legal, safe and free. "This campaign was consolidated in 2005 and today the movement is made up of over 700 political, trade union and social groups. In addition to women, the network is made up of men and dissidents (which is not defined within the concept of gender that society has established), and includes professional groups of health and individuals, networks of teachers and other agents". The motto of the campaign is: Sex education, to decide; contraceptives, not to abort; and legal abortion, not to die. As he explained, the project that was approved today in the Senate began to be gestated in the National Women’s Meetings and, when the campaign was completed in 2005, it was written, reinforced and shaped until 15 years later it has been definitively approved. "In addition to 2018, in total we have tried 8 times to legalize abortion with this legislative project," he added.

In this way, there has been a substantial change between the previous law and the draft now being adopted, which has not been adopted. Now, the abortion law allows voluntary termination of pregnancy until the fourteenth week of pregnancy and subsequent care by the system. Likewise, from the fourteenth week on, abortion will only be legal if the mother's life is in danger, or if the woman has been raped.

Furthermore, as has been said, abortion should be carried out in the health system services or with their help. For this purpose, the maximum period shall be 10 days from the request. The process will always be free of charge and diagnostic services, medicines and supportive therapies will be provided free of charge. They also have the right to confidentiality of women who decide to terminate their pregnancy and doctors who wish to participate in abortion should guarantee it. Likewise, health professionals who do not wish to participate in abortion may make use of conscientious objection.

"As we have mentioned, we want abortion to be legal, safe and free, and we have fought for it with the campaign. We therefore want the place where it will be aborted to be warm for this person, that is, not to be done in any way. The goal is to be safe and to feel overwhelmed and satisfied by those who have to do so."

However, Martínez is aware that all women and citizens of Argentina are not in favor of legalizing abortion. "Of course, there are those who are against, who are anti rights," he added. When I said this, I asked him about religion. Does belief have anything to do here? Martinez's answer was no to the call for Copa. Answer: "In the campaign there are groups and people who are religious and voting in favour of legalizing abortion does not mean that they stop being religious; it is a right, not an imposition," he added.

Social class account

"What we are asking for goes beyond what is understood by the general concept of abortion," he stressed. "We want to make sure that abortion is something that has to be within public health, which is fundamental. What's more, it's not quite like that, but we could say it's the last staircase in the pyramid. Because before we have to work a lot in schools, in institutions, in public institutions, in private institutions... and that's what we are in," he said. Specifically, since the campaign was launched, talks, conferences, courses and other dynamics are held to be informed about the issue.

"It's essential to have a sex education and be informed." In fact, he warned that "there is a lack of information" by the Basque Government. "I always say that for us in Argentina the struggle for legal abortion is something that is under the motto of social justice, understanding that in South America there is great poverty and social inequality."

In this sense, the Argentinian has explained that in his country the gap between social classes is "very evident" and inequality. With this reality in the center, he denounced that abortion in Argentina "always" has been "present". "Because wealthy women have always had the opportunity to have an abortion and the others have not," he added. That's why the feminist movement's struggle goes one step further. "We want the right to be informed and to all social sectors of society have the right to decide and lead a dignified life, and not only those who have a significant amount of money," he added.

"The law allows, does not impose anything"

The Argentinian has explained that the right to abortion that was approved on December 30 "gives the opportunity" to do so. "It is a right to decide, that is, whether the person who can have a pregnancy in the Basque Country wants to have an abortion or not," he added. He wanted to make it clear, because "that is what the campaign has asked for: This law allows, does not impose anything", said Martínez.

In fact, he has denounced that thousands of illegal abortions have occurred in hiding before passing this law, “which is very hard and unfair”. In fact, unofficial data indicate that 447,000 illegal abortions are performed each year in Argentina. Mr Martinez, who has given several examples, has put on the table the case of Bethlehem, which has denied any doubt. "It's not her real name, of course, but it's that of a woman who aborted in 2015. He was sentenced to eight years in jail for aborting," he said. "There has also been a case of Ana María Sevedo, 19, who was suffering from cancer and who the doctor did not want to undergo radiation therapy because she was pregnant, as happened in 2006. The consequence was his death.

However, for the first time in the history of Argentina, the case came to the Supreme Court and the doctors were tried and sentenced for denying one of their rights and causing serious injury to this person. The latter, he said, "gave a boost to the campaign and the goal of abortion being achieved in a safe, legal and free way." In so doing, he wanted to denounce that "it is regrettable" that such incidents "have to occur in order for our word to have an echo".

"The struggle isn't over."

Before concluding the interview, Martínez has stated that "the process must continue" and that "the battle is not over". "The Green Tide is growing and growing; at first we were 5, then we were 10, and now we are millions who make up the network. As a result, social condemnation is gradually becoming extinct. In fact, the talks began to take place on television, on the radio and in all the media. As I said, the network has been growing because we have worked a lot behind it. We have carried out and continue to carry out research, courses, workshops and conferences. These activities and meetings have also been attended by people from other countries in South America, and the work carried out has been echoed. For all these reasons, we must continue to work to implement what has been achieved so far and to implement the legislative project in practice", clarified the Argentinian.