Charter of Principles of the Latin American Network of Catholics for the Right to Decide

 We are an autonomous movement of Catholic people committed to the search of social justice and the change of cultural and religious patterns currently in force in our societies.

 We promote women’s rights, especially those which refer to their sexuality and reproduction.

We fight for equity in gender relations and for women’s citizenship both in society at large and inside churches.

We are currently going through a collective construction process, and we work in a democratic and participatory manner.

 We assert:

• Women’s rights to autonomy and control over their own bodies and to a pleasurable experience of their sexuality without discrimination on the basis of class, race/ethnic group, creed, age and sexual choice.

• Women’s and men’s moral capacity to take rational and responsible decisions in their lives, particularly when such decisions concern their sexuality and reproduction.

• The theological thought which recognizes the moral validity of the decisions taken by women on reproductive matters and which takes the blame away from women, even when they decide to have and abortion.

The respect for diversity, difference and plurality as necessary constituents of the relationship between freedom and justice.

We propose:

• To create spaces for ethical-religious discussion from an ecumenical perspective, and to contribute to public debates, both in society and inside churches, on issues pertaining to sexuality, reproduction and religion.

• To deepen the discussion on the voluntary interruption of pregnancy, broadening the debate regarding its ethical, medical, and legal aspects.

• Exert influence upon society for the recognition of women’s right to a free and voluntary motherhood with the aim of diminishing the negative impact of abortion and maternal mortality.

• Fight for the decriminalization and legalization of abortion.

• Sensitize and involve civil society – particularly the groups whose work relates to sexual and reproductive health, education, human rights, the mass media – and lawmakers on the need for change of cultural patterns which enjoy currently in force in our society.

We demand from the State:

• The full and effective implementation of commitments taken on by governments in International Conferences organized by the United Nations and held in Cairo (1994) and Beijing (1995).

• The implementation of sexual education programs from the perspective of sexual and reproductive human rights.

• The implementation of laws, public policies and accessible and high-quality healthcare which guarantee that all women, particularly poorer women, effectively enjoy their reproductive and sexual health.