Brazil seeks to restrict abortion rights for minors impregnated by rape.

In a swift decision made on Tuesday, Brazilian lawmakers opted to restrict underage victims of sexual violence from accessing abortion, following a brief debate that lasted less than two minutes.

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This vote aims to undo a resolution established by the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, which had previously emphasized the importance of prioritizing the interests of victims.

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The National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents described the outcome as "a historic defeat in the comprehensive protection of girls and adolescents in Brazil," further characterizing it as "a serious setback" in a statement.

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Under the previous regulation, minors who found themselves at odds with their parents or guardians regarding their pregnancy were entitled to receive free legal assistance, enabling them to safeguard their rights, including the option to undergo an abortion.

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Right-wing senator Damares Alves argued that the regulation "disregards the role and strips away the authority of parents and guardians to decide on the care of girls and adolescents in situations of sexual violence," thus justifying the need for change.

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Brazil's penal code imposes a prison sentence of up to four years for those who undergo abortions, although exceptions are made in cases of rape, risk of death for the mother, or severe fetal brain malformation.

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The proposed change has garnered approval from both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, but it still requires the backing of allies of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro to successfully clear Congress.