Brazil’s Push for Legal Abortion Masks Deeper Failures in Protecting Women and National Values

On a recent Sunday in São Paulo, around 500 women gathered in front of the Museum of Art (MASP) demanding what they call "legal, safe, and free" abortion services. This protest was part of a coordinated effort across major Brazilian cities marking the Latin American and Caribbean Day for the Decriminalization and Legalization of Abortion. At face value, these demonstrations spotlight a divisive social issue. But beneath the surface lies a far graver problem—government neglect that disproportionately harms Brazil’s poorest and most vulnerable women, especially black communities. This failure to protect life raises critical questions about how similar policies might...