Symposium on Reproductive Rights in Latin America

8:30 a.m.

Breakfast and Welcome: Michael Shifter and Nancy Northup

8:45-10:15 a.m. 

Abortion Bans in Latin America: What are the consequences for health and human rights of total abortion bans in the region? The cases of El Salvador and Chile. 

Speakers: 

Morena Herrera (El Salvador), President, Agrupación Ciudadana por la despenalización del aborto terapéutico, ético y eugenésico, Colectiva Feminista (Citizen’s Group for the Decriminalization of Therapeutic, Ethical and Eugenic Abortion, Feminist Collective) 

Vlado Mirosevic Verdugo (Chile), National Deputy, Congress of Chile and President, Liberal Party of Chile

Lilian Sepulveda (Chile), Director, Global Legal Program, Center for Reproductive Rights

Click here to view Mirosevic Verdugo’s presentation.

10:15-10:30 a.m.

Break

10:30-12:00 a.m.

Liberalization of Abortion Laws: What political and social forces have led to a liberalization of abortion laws? What impact has this liberalization had on democracy and social equity in Mexico City and Uruguay? What challenges remain? 

Speakers: 

Denise Dresser (Mexico), Professor, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and Columnist, Reforma

Leonel Briozzo, MD (Uruguay), Deputy Health Minister

Jocelyn Viterna (United States), Associate Professor of Sociology and of Social Studies, Harvard University

Click here to view Briozzo’s presentation.

Click here to view Dresser’s remarks.

12:00-12:30 p.m.

Buffet Lunch

12:30-2:00 p.m. 

Liberalization of abortion laws and abortion bans in Latin America: Perspectives on the implications for democracy, social equity, and health. 

Moderator: 

Michael Shifter, President, Inter-American Dialogue 

Speakers: 

Julián Cruzalta (Mexico), Catholics for the Right to Decide

Macarena Saez (Chile), Fellow, International Legal Studies Program and Professor, Washington College of Law, American University

Oscar Cabrera (Venezuela), Executive Director, O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center

Click here to view Cabrera’s presentation.