Lower age limit for sterilization approved by Martinelli

A LAW allowing women over 23 to be sterilized has been signed by President Ricardo Martinelli in spite of opposition from within the Assembly and from the Catholic Church.

Women who are over 23 and have had two or more children can be sterilized in public hospitals.
Some legislators had asked Martinelli to veto the law because, according to them, it should be studied in greater detail, especially the age in which women can have access to the operation.
The President of the Health Commission of the National Assembly Mario Lazarus said the age should be 28 years.
He added that he knows that there are 20 year-olds who have six or more children, which are then a burden to society, but there are also women who may change their minds.
"This is a controversial problem, that must be evaluated," he said.
Opposition Legislator Elí¬as Castillo said that there are cases in which these controls should be applied, but not all of them.
The law has not yet been published in the Official Gazette.