Argentina has legalized abortion in a groundbreaking movement for women's rights.
Per The Guardian, Argentina is now the largest Latin American country to legalize abortion - but is still only the third South American nation to allow elective abortions.
The landmark decision was made after the country's senate voted to approve the new law, with 38 votes in favor of the bill to 29 against (with one abstention).
BBC News reports that up until now, abortions were only permitted in cases of rape or when the mother's health was at risk. Now, it will be legal for women to undergo an abortion up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
The bill was put to congress by the country's center-left president, Alberto Fernández, who tweeted in celebration following upon the law's successful passing.
"Safe, legal, and free abortion is now law," Fernández wrote, adding: "Today we are a better society."
As the result was announced at just after 4:00AM on Wednesday (December 30), jubilant celebrations erupted among the crowds that had gathered outside Congress in the capital Buenos Aires.
As music played and green smoke filled the air, many women in the crowd could be seen embracing one another, crying, and cheering.
On a big screen, a triumphant message appeared reading: "We did it!" and "ES LEY!" (IT'S LAW!).
Among those celebrating was 25-year-old Melany Marcati, who said, per The Guardian: "I’m very emotional
"There are no words to describe what your body feels after fighting for something for so long. I cried a lot, which I wasn’t expecting."
Per the BBC, President Fernández has made abortion rights one of his campaign promises, stating: "I'm Catholic but I have to legislate for everyone."
The president also revealed that "every year around 38,000 women" are taken to hospital due to clandestine terminations and "more than 3,000 have died" as a result of unsafe and illegal abortions.
Argentina now joined Uruguay and Guyana as the third South American country to decriminalize the practice.