Brazilian abortion politics: An update
During 2015, as previously reported by SPW, Brazilian abortion politics continued to evolve under pressures created by the unsettled intersection of regressive policy trends (which have been gaining strength since the mid 2000’s) and the macro-political crisis which has overtaken the Brazilian res publica.

A new bill aims to make Brazil’s abortion law even tougher
The rise of Zika and its troubling possible link to head deformities in babies have certainly reignited the debate over Brazil’s abortion law.
From Sketchy Pills To Upscale Clinics: Illegal Abortion In Brazil
Marina” got pregnant at the age of 20 when she was living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Abortion is illegal in the country, except in rare circumstances, but she knew she had to terminate. “I was young and ambitious,” said the now-31-year-old, who describes herself as upper middle-class. “I had so many career and travel plans. I couldn’t just become a mother at that point.”

Tackling Zika: Have We Learned Our Lesson on Rights?
The Zika virus outbreak and the increase of babies being born with birth defects seemingly linked to the mosquito-transmitted disease have generated a series of prescriptions from governments of the most affected countries about what people need to do and not do. These include asking women to delay pregnancies—until 2018 in El Salvador, for example.

‘Spotlight’ abuse scandal didn’t end in Boston. In South America, it’s still unfolding
The Boston Globe’s investigation busted open a massive Catholic Church scandal in the United States 14 years ago. But in remote parts of South America, GlobalPost discovered that the church practice of reassigning child abusers to another parish, instead of defrocking them, has continued.

The sexual politics in February 2016
In February, there were good news to report from both Haiti and Europe. In the case of Haiti, the Penal Code reform is underway and

NEW DATES for 13th AWID International Forum in Brazil: 8-11 September 2016
After careful consideration, AWID’s Board of Directors has decided to postpone the AWID Forum due to current uncertainty around the Zika virus situation in Brazil.

The many places of prostitution
In late November, 2015, the Institute of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IFCS/UFRJ) hosted a one week course

Confronting a new epidemic: consequences of the Zika virus for public health and reproductive rights
Originally posted by the International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion on 15/02/2016. Available at: https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=c02a095d6213ac4bd2aed2e81&id=29c2a05981&e=869b0d4585 WHO predicts up to four million cases of

Pope and Patriarch Misrepresent the True Meaning of Secularism and Seek to Impose their Beliefs on Others
Originally published on Catholics for Choice. Available at: https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/news/pr/2016/PopeandPatriarchMisrepresent.asp On his way to Mexico, Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic church, met with Russian