Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – A heated debate over abortion rights has ignited in Brazil, sparking clashes between feminist movements and the country’s powerful Catholic Church. The story of Mariana Leal de Souza, who faced an unwanted pregnancy after tragedy struck her family, exemplifies the plight of many Brazilian women navigating the nation’s restrictive abortion laws.

Currently, abortion is only legal in Brazil under limited circumstances: rape, risk to the mother’s health, or severe fetal malformations. This forces countless women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, to seek unsafe clandestine procedures, jeopardizing their health and risking legal prosecution. Anthropological studies reveal a disproportionate impact on Black and poor women who lack access to safe and legal alternatives.

Feminist movements like Nem Presa Nem Morta (“Neither Subdued Nor Dead”) and Ele Não (“Not Him”) have gained momentum in the fight for decriminalization of abortion and broader reproductive rights. However, a growing evangelical population presents a formidable obstacle. Evangelical groups wield significant influence in Brazilian politics, shaping policy and hindering legislative reforms aimed at expanding abortion access.

This clash between women’s rights advocates and the religious right promises to be a defining issue in Brazil’s social and political landscape for the foreseeable future.