Uruguay Lawmakers May Decriminalize Abortion Uruguay's congress is preparing to vote to decriminalize abortions, and both anti-abortion and pro-choice forces are opposed to the measure. The Senate already approved it and supporters feel they have enough votes to pass it on Tuesday. It would decriminalize all first-trimester abortions, a groundbreaking law in Latin America, where only Cuba has completely legalized it. But the measure requires a five-day wait for any woman requesting an abortion, and grants them the right only with the consent of the father and a medical review panel. That's unacceptable to pro-choice groups. A statement from Uruguay's Catholic University, meanwhile, said it makes no sense to punish a woman for killing a fetus that is 12 weeks and 1 day old, but to decriminalize abortions before then.