The representatives of the National Institute of Women have called on President Carlos Alvarado to approve a technical standard for Article 121 of the Criminal Code to regulate the practice of therapeutic abortion.

Article 121, in force since 1971, establishes the possibility of terminating a pregnancy when the life or health of the woman is endangered. However, the lack of a rule that clarifies doubts about this procedure still awaits approval by the president.

The institute says new legislation that approves abortion in Costa Rica is not needed. What is needed is compliance with existing legislation, according to the institute known as INAMU, a acronym for its name in Spanish). "Without this regulation, the Costa Rican government is violating the international commitments it has assumed to guarantee the effective protection of women's human rights, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women," said the institute.

According to the institute, the Ministry of Health has the obligation to execute the law  after Alvarado approves the technical rule.

The institute says Alvarado is delaying signing of approval of this rule.

"INAMU has offered and will continue to offer the technical criteria to guarantee the human right to women's health and life, and we reiterate that women's lives cannot continue to be at risk because they continue to postpone a norm that implements the existing legislation," the institute said.

Despite the request of the Women's Institute, the legislature has asked the president to abstain from signing the therapeutic abortion rule.