With five votes in favor and four against, Colombia's constitutional court issued a ruling yesterday decriminalizing abortion in this South American republic. Given that, like many of its neighbors, Colombia is a Catholic country, where the church and right-wing parties exert a strong influence on judicial decisions, this is undoubtedly a landmark ruling that continues a trend already set in Mexico and Argentina.
I am aware that the issue of abortion is quite contentious and generates many conflicting opinions, but the fact that a woman who wishes to have an abortion (and who is going to have one in any case) can do it safely is a huge achievement. Well done!
Colombia Decriminalizes Abortion
With five votes in favor and four against, Colombia's constitutional court issued a ruling yesterday decriminalizing abortion in this South American republic. Given that, like many of its neighbors, Colombia is a Catholic country, where the church and right-wing parties exert a strong influence on judicial decisions, this is undoubtedly a landmark ruling that continues a trend already set in Mexico and Argentina.
I am aware that the issue of abortion is quite contentious and generates many conflicting opinions, but the fact that a woman who wishes to have an abortion (and who is going to have one in any case) can do it safely is a huge achievement. Well done!
European countries starting to relax COVID rules
Last Friday I learned that the day before, the Swiss Federal Council had agreed to relax the COVID measures, so that the use of masks is limited to public transport and health institutions only. This morning I was reading that similar measures are being adopted in other European countries like the UK, Norway, France, Germany, and Austria.
It is true that vaccination rates have reached important levels in most of these countries, that COVID cases have decreased significantly, and that fortunately Omicron-related cases have been milder than previous variants, but in any case it feels a bit surreal to enter stores and restaurants without having to wear the mask that has been one of our essential accessories during these long months of the pandemic. Fingers crossed that the situation continues to evolve so positively!Beautiful sunset in Ouchy
Sometimes you are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to capture an interesting photo. This is what happened last weekend in Ouchy, Lausanne: we were relaxing by the fountain in the main square, and as the sun was setting, illuminating the bridge and the water, people were passing by, including this cyclist, who was captured in the image.
Marktplatz last weekend
Last weekend, when I was walking home after getting a PCR test (which is part of the routine in this pandemic era), I passed by Marktplatz, where I have walked thousands of times, but from the angle where I was, looking at the clear sky with the Rathaus in the background, I said to myself: wow, it really looks beautiful!
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