Puerto Rico Now Recognizes Unborn Babies as Human Beings in New Law Signed by GOP Governor
by David Lindfield
Puerto Rico has taken a significant step toward strengthening legal protections for unborn children after Republican Governor Jenniffer González signed legislation recognizing an unborn baby as a human being under territorial law.
González said the measure is intended to align civil and criminal statutes by formally acknowledging the humanity of the unborn.
In a statement, the governor said:
“This aims to maintain consistency between civil and criminal provisions by recognizing the unborn child as a human being.”
Law Strengthens Protections in Murder Cases
The amendment, Senate Bill 923, modifies Puerto Rico’s Penal Code definition of murder.
It also complements an existing statute establishing first-degree murder charges when a perpetrator intentionally kills a pregnant woman and causes the death of her unborn child at any stage of gestation.
The legislation is named after Keishla Rodríguez, a pregnant woman murdered in April 2021.