In a significant victory for defenders of the unborn, Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves announced a new rule clarifying that abortion will now only be permitted when the mother’s life is in immediate danger.
The change removes a previous “health” exception that had been interpreted broadly enough to allow abortions in non-life-threatening situations. The move restores moral clarity to a nation whose laws have long recognized that every human life—from conception—is worthy of protection.
President Chaves explained: “Today the only reason for which an abortion can be done without penalty is when there are only two options: the mother’s life or the life of the being that is inside.” While this is a significant step in the right direction, more work is needed to completely ban abortion in Costa Rica.
Faith leaders and pro-life advocates welcomed the decision as a reaffirmation of Costa Rica’s commitment to life. The Evangelical Alliance praised Chaves for honoring “the universal principle of the value of all human life.”
Costa Rica remains one of Latin America’s strongest defenders of unborn life. The 2019 policy that had introduced the “health” clause was controversial from the start, with many warning it could open the door to abortion on demand.
While President Chaves cannot seek re-election, his leadership has reaffirmed the nation’s moral heritage: that government exists to safeguard the weak, not to sanction their destruction.
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