Freedom of wombs

Freedom of wombs (Spanish "Libertad de vientres") was a judicial principle applied in several countries in South America in the 19th century which automatically freed slaves' children at their birth, rather than becoming the property of the parents' owners. It is to be noted that countries which passed this law did abolish slavery completely in later years.

A movement for American freedom from Spain grew in the American colonies in the 19th century, brought about by liberal ideas such as the abolition of slavery. One of the first steps was the "Ley de Libertad de Vientres" law created by Chilean Manuel de Salas in 1811. [ [http://www.auroradechile.cl/newtenberg/681/article-3031.html "Manuel de Salas"] es icon]

In Argentina, the Law of Wombs was passed on February 2, 1813 by the Assembly of Year XIII. The law stated that those born after January 31, 1813 would be granted freedom when contracting matrimony, or on their 16th birthday for women and 20th for men, and upon their manumission would be given land and tools to work it. [ [http://www.educar-argentina.com.ar/CORIA/coria9.htm "Pasado y presente de los Negros en Buenos Aires"] es icon] In 1853, slavery was completely abolished.

In Peru, president José de San Martín established the freedom of wombs for those born after the declaration of independence (1821). [ [http://www.educared.edu.pe/estudiantes/historia6/fenomeno2.htm "La sociedad a inicios de la República"] es icon]

In Colombia, the Law of wombs was first passed by the government of Antioquia in 1814, but it was not until 1824 that the country accepted it. [ [http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/html/etnias/1604/article-82844.html "http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/html/etnias/1604/article-82844.html"] es icon]

The law was proposed in Spain in 1869, passed in 1870 and took effect in 1872. It primarily applied to Cuba and Puerto Rico, since slavery had been abolished in Spain in 1837. It is also known as "Ley Moret" (Moret Law). [ [http://freeweb.supereva.com/carlo260/vientres_libres.html?p "La Ley de Vientres Libres y los intereses esclavistas"] es icon]

Venezuela endorsed a similar law in 1821, [ [http://www.fpolar.org.ve/nosotros/educacional/economia/abolescl.html "Ley de Abolición de la Esclavitud"] es icon] as well as Ecuador, [ [http://www.lablaa.org/blaavirtual/historia/equinoccial_6_comercio/capitu26.htm "REFORMAS ECONÓMICAS DE MEDIADOS DEL SIGLO XIX"] es icon]
Uruguay in 1825, [ [http://www.presidencia.gub.uy/_Web/ddhh/ddhhuru.htm "Instrumentos Nacionales de Derechos Humanos"] es icon] and Paraguay in 1842. [ [http://www.asa.edu.py/tch_work/estudiossociales/cronologiaamericalatina.htm "De la Independencia a nuestros días"] es icon] One of the last Latin American countries to abolish slavery was Brazil in 1888.

ee also

*Partus sequitur ventrum

References