Brazilian congressional committee votes for bill to ban abortion

A committee in Brazil's lower chamber of Congress approved a bill on Wednesday that would ban abortion in Brazil in all cases including those currently allowed such as fetal deformation, rape or when the mother's health is in danger.

The Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, where conservatives have a majority, voted 35-15 to approve a proposal for a constitutional amendment to establish that the inviolability of the right to life applies from the moment of conception and not at birth.

The sponsor of the legislation, Chris Tonietto of the right-wing Liberal Party, said the amendment would "ensure that unborn children will enjoy the right to life."

The proposed bill will now go to a special committee set up for the issue and discussions are expected to take place early next year.

Progressive lawmakers criticized the amendment, calling it a "secular setback" and an attack on women's rights. They said the measure will paralyze research into stem cells and rule out procedures such as in vitro fertilization.

"It's a provocation. It is shameless and perverse to say that this is a defense of anyone's life," said Samia Bomfim of the Socialism and Liberty Party.