Argentina's senate voted early on Wednesday to legalize abortion in the country, making it the first major country in Latin America to achieve the landmark bill.
Up until now, abortion was allowed only when there was serious risk to the health of the mother and rape cases. After the bill, it will be allowed through the 14th week of pregnancy.
After a marathon debate that began at 4:00 pm, the close vote was passed with 38 in favour, 29 against and 1 abstention.
Thousands of supporters cheered on in a huge crowd outside the Senate Building in Buenos Aires. Green smoke erupted from the crowd, with the people waving green flags.
"We did it sisters. We made history. We did it together. There are no words for this moment, it passes through the body and the soul,” tweeted Monica Macha, a lawmaker with President Alberto Fernandez’ centre-left ruling coalition which supported the law.
This one decision could set in a huge shift in the conservative Latin America, liberating women of restrictive reproductive rights.
