The Planned Parenthood-sponsored campaign to overturn current anti-abortion laws in Peru received completely one-sided, favorable coverage on Univision’s principal national evening newscast.
Although both Univision anchor Jorge Ramos and correspondent María Luisa Martínez, acknowledged the proposed decriminalization of abortion in Peru in the case of rape (it is already decriminalized in cases of grave deformities or health issues for the baby or mother) is highly controversial in that country, the network’s extensive report on the subject included no voices in favor of maintaining Peru’s current abortion restrictions.
Instead, viewers were solely treated to images of several young female advocates of lifting the country’s abortion restrictions disrobing themselves in front of the nation’s parliament building. Only the views of women who identify with Peru’s “Let Her Decide” and “I Aborted” movements were heard.
Sandra De La Cruz of the “Let Her Decide” movement, for example, was allowed to say without opposition that her group, along with an allied group, do not promote abortion, but rather only promote the protection of women’s lives.
SANDRA DE LA CRUZ, SPOKESPERSON FOR “LET HER DECIDE”: I believe neither of the organizations - "Let Her Decide," nor the colleagues from “I Aborted” - are promoting abortion. What they are promoting are that the lives of women be protected, because the criminalization of abortion leads us women to clandestine abortions.
Univision’s correspondent also included the pro-abortion view of Peru’s First Lady, Nadine Heredia. Martínez specifically cited the country’s high rape statistics as a justification for changing the law, saying some 70% of rape victims in Peru are teenagers and girls, and almost half of such rapes occur in their family environment.
Pro-life leaders and advocates in Perú, including the country’s Catholic hierarchy and many evangelical Christian pastors, are making vigorous efforts to defend the country’s current anti-abortion law, but they were given no opportunity to do so in this report.
The relevant portions of the referenced national newscast appear below:
Noticiero Univision 08/17/2015 6:30 PM
JORGE RAMOS, ANCHOR: The prohibition of abortion, even in cases where pregnancy is the result of rape, is a hot topic in Perú. There, many women are protesting in front of Congress to demand the decriminalization of abortion. A demand joined by the country’s First Lady. María Luisa Martínez brings us the reactions of the women who demand to be the owners of their bodies.
MARIA LUISA MARTINEZ, CORRESPONDENT: Women of all ages and walks of life came to Congress to ask for the decriminalization of abortion, and even more so in cases where pregnancy is the result of rape. The campaign is called “Déjala Decidir” [Let Her Decide]. The protests are becoming more increasingly defiant and audacious, with naked breasts and strong symbolic images. Sandra is an activist and explains why they undress.
SANDRA DE LA CRUZ, “DEJALA DECIDIR” SPOKESWOMAN: I can decide about my body, I show my breasts as a way to show the world I am the owner of my body and I can show it and nobody can touch me, nobody can attack me, although I walk naked on the street, no?
MARIA LUISA MARTINEZ: But the most controversial organization is the one promoting the Internet page called “I Aborted”. It has 12,000 visits and women’s heart-rending testimonies of women, many very young, who tell their experiences. It has been criticized and called abortionist.
SANDRA DE LA CRUZ, “DEJALA DECIDIR” SPOKESWOMAN: I believe neither of the organizations - Let Her Decide, nor the colleagues from “I Aborted” - are promoting abortion. What they are promoting are that the lives of women be protected, because the criminalization of abortion leads us women to clandestine abortions.
MARIA LUISA MARTINEZ, CORRESPONDENT: As a result of these campaigns, the testimonies of raped women have multiplied on social networks.
MADAME LISABI, RAPE VICTIM: Who thinks of the girl or woman raped, abused?
MARIA LUISA MARTINEZ: The wife of the President, Nadine Heredia, has come out with an image, along with her daughters, supporting this campaign on Twitter. She has also been criticized. The official statistics of rape are overwhelming. 17,000 cases per year. 70% are teenagers and girls, and almost half are abused in their family environment. In Lima, Perú, María Luisa Martínez, Univision.
