A new law passed on December 27 intends to help quell Brazil's high maternal mortality rate by requiring all pregnant women to register their pregnancies with the state, but according to a Slate.com blog, the law will do little to that end and instead violate a woman's rights "by the compulsory government registration to control and monitor her reproductive life..." The law sets out to ensure pregnant women receive proper access to quality healthcare; however, citing strong ties between the country's president and the Catholic Church, and enacting the law during the holiday season without congressional approval, the author questions the motives behind the law.
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