The Colombian Constitutional Court’s president has rejected the inspector general’s criticism of abortion laws, saying that the court has the final say in the matter.
Constitutional Court President Juan Carlos Henao said that the court’s high tribunal made its decision “in order to do its duty,” in response to Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez’ claims regarding the constitutionality of abortion laws, during a Wednesday conference at an educational institution.
“He holds a position as an inspector general, but he, as inspector general, he is involved in the processes, and (…) reflects his manner of thinking. We respond [as a matter of] jurisprudence and to that extent, there is a dialogue at all levels, with all respect, but the tribunal has the closing words and not the inspector general, who only is an important, but not definitive, contributor,” said the court president.
On Wednesday, Inspector General Alejandro Ordoñez criticized the court’s 2006 decision to change the laws governing abortion in three exceptional circumstances, claiming that in doing so the court “mixed up the social state of law with the social state of desire,” and provoking a strong reaction from former Colombian President Cesar Gaviria.