Buenos Aires legislature advances respectful childbirth law while Ecuador suspends assisted reproduction debate

In the Buenos Aires City Legislature, the Health Commission and the Women, Gender and Diversity Commission met to amend Law No. 6.365 on Respectful Childbirth and Perinatal Care. The amendment adds a new paragraph guaranteeing universal, free, 24‑hour access to obstetric analgesia, including epidural anesthesia, with costs covered by the city budget for public facilities and mandatory coverage for private and social security providers. The proposal was presented by Commission President Facundo Del Gaisó and Vice‑President Claudia Negri, with other legislators in attendance.

Meanwhile, Ecuador’s National Assembly placed the second debate of the Organic Law on Assisted Human Reproduction on hold. The bill seeks to create a comprehensive legal framework for fertility techniques, safeguard the rights of children born through these methods, and recognize diverse family types. The discussion was led by Health Commission President Juan José Reyes, who highlighted the need for safety, biosecurity, informed consent and data protection in authorized clinics. The suspension delays further consideration of the law’s provisions on clinical authorization and ethical regulation.