New Guatemalan law punishes abortion and same-sex marriage 

Guatemala’s congress approved on Tuesday evening a law that punishes abortion with up to 25 years in prison and same-sex marriage, reported local newspaper El Periodico. 

The initiative, called the Law for the Protection of Life and Family in Guatemala, was presented to congress dive years ago by the conservative party Viva “to protect the right to live, family, and marriage between woman and men.” 

The new law specifies that women who “induce their own abortion or give their consent to another person to carry it out” at any period of the fetus’ development could face up to 25 years in prison. 

However, exceptions can be made when the mother’s life is in danger and the procedure is approved by two doctors. 

Furthermore, any individual who induces an abortion without the mother’s consent could face up to 50 years in prison. 

The law also prohibits private and public educational centers from teaching about sexual diversity or any other sexual orientation that is not heterosexual. 

“Public and private educational entities are prohibited from promoting in childhood and adolescence, policies or programs related to sexual diversity and the ideology of gender or teach as normal sexual behaviors other than heterosexuality or that are incompatible with the biological and genetic aspects of the human being,” reads the law.

Furthermore, the law bans same-sex marriage and specifies that same-sex couples cannot adopt children. 

Guatemalan human rights ombudsman, Jordan Rodas, said he would challenge the law on human rights claims. 

"It violates human rights. It violates the international agreements ratified by Guatemala. It is a setback to freedoms," Rodas said. 

The law still needs to be signed by President Alejandro Giammattei and published in the country’s official gazette to come into effect.