Colombia constitutional amendment on life from fertilization

In late July 2026, a group of pro‑life legislators in Colombia’s House of Representatives introduced a constitutional reform bill to amend Article 11, explicitly stating that human life begins at fertilisation. The proposal, presented by the Bancada Provida bloc, was set to move to the relevant congressional committees for discussion.

Two days later, the debate expanded as members of the Conservative Party, the Salvation National Party and other pro‑life groups joined the effort. Lawmakers such as Carol Borda, Sara Castellanos, Luis Miguel López and David Gerardo Cote pushed the amendment to reverse the 2022 Constitutional Court decision that had de‑criminalised abortion up to 24 weeks. Opponents, including women’s‑rights organisations, warned that the change would curtail reproductive autonomy and conflict with regional human‑rights guidance. The discussion highlighted both the political coalition supporting the amendment and the growing resistance from civil‑society groups.