Women peasants reject new “sexual and reproductive rights” law in Bolivia

La Paz, Bolivia, Aug 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm

In the wake of the recent approval of a new Sexual and Reproductive Rights law by the Bolivian Congress, several women’s groups have expressed their rejection of the measure and their fear of how it will affect their children.

Flora Guilla, leader of the Association of Women Peasants of Cochabamba, explained that, in coordination with the Catholic Church, the group is calling for a more detailed explanation of the new law and its consequences.

The group which represents peasant women—who according to feminists would be “the first” to benefit from the program—said, “We fear for our children, who may become rebellious, for our daughters who may get pregnant at a young age and tell us we have to just accept it.”

“They have told us that if people are homosexual we have to just accept it.  For this reason we are opposing this new law,” Guilla added.

Among other things, the new law protects the “right of confidentiality,” which would allow young people to hide their sexual activity from their parents. 

Although the law was passed by the Bolivian House of Representatives and Senate, President Carlos Mesa sent the law back to Congress for revision after receiving a letter from the Bishops Conference of Bolivia expressing alarm at the new measure.