Chile's president announces plans to end the country's abortion ban

SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Chile's President Michelle Bachelet has announced she plans to end the abortion ban in the country.

She has presented a bill to the Chilean Congress that would make it so pregnancies resulting from rape or pregnancies where the mother or child's life is at risk can legally be aborted.

"When a mother's life is at risk, or if she has been raped, you have to make a decision, and we can't squander the dignity of women nor should we prolong her suffering," she stated during a public address that appeared on national television.

"Facts have shown that the absolute criminalization of abortion has not stopped the practice," she said.

As the law stands, those who have abortions can be sentenced to five years in jail.

Chile is one of five Latin American countries where there is a total ban on abortion, with the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras, according to Amnesty International. The organization claims many women die every year getting illegal abortions in countries with abortion bans.