São Paulo, June 16, 2024 — Thousands of women took to the streets of São Paulo on Saturday to protest a proposed bill in Brazil's conservative Congress that would criminalize abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy. The demonstrators marched along Paulista Avenue, holding placards and banners denouncing the bill.

The controversial bill, if passed, would categorize abortion after 22 weeks as a crime akin to murder, carrying a sentence of six to twenty years in prison. This has sparked widespread outrage among women's rights activists and the general public. Reuters reported that protesters have labeled the bill the most repressive measure against women's reproductive rights in decades.

Participants of all ages joined the march, carrying signs with slogans such as "A rapist is not a father." The proposed legislation has faced criticism for its potential to severely impact rape victims and those facing severe fetal malformations or life-threatening conditions, which are currently the only exceptions allowing abortion in Brazil.

Under the new bill, a rape victim who seeks an abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy would face severe criminal charges. Feminist groups argue that the bill fails to address the core issue of sexual violence and instead imposes harsher penalties on women. Presently, the maximum penalty for rape in Brazil is ten years in prison.

Critics of the bill, including leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, argue that it disproportionately punishes women, especially young girls who may not realize they are pregnant until it is too late. Lula voiced his opposition at the G7 summit in Italy, calling the bill "madness" and condemning the idea of punishing women more severely than rapists.

As the debate continues, the protests highlight the deep division within Brazilian society over the issue of abortion and women's reproductive rights. The outcome of this legislative battle will have significant implications for the future of women's rights in Brazil.