“This law should really be called a law to imprison and kill women,” said centre-left Congressman Samuel Perez. “It is one of the most brazen things they are doing in this Legislature, and on top of it all, they are doing it on Women’s Day.”

International women’s rights groups also criticised the move, which contrasts to the ‘Green Wave’ sweeping over parts of historically conservative Latin America. 

Just last month, Colombia’s top court decriminalised abortion following years of grassroots protests, meaning women can now seek the procedure in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy without fear of criminal prosecution. 

It followed similar landmark rulings in Mexico – where its Supreme Court decriminalised abortion in September – and Argentina, whose Congress legalised the procedure in late 2020.

Eugenia Lopez Uribe, regional director for Americas and the Caribbean Region at the International Planned Parenthood Federation, told the Telegraph Guatemala’s law is “archaic” and “disturbing”.

“While countries across Latin America were celebrating the lives and rights of women, Guatemala has chosen to criminalise those making the best decision for themselves and their families, while also risking imprisoning vulnerable women and girls who have experienced sexual violence or suffered pregnancy loss.

“By severely limiting access to safe and post-abortion care, the law will undoubtedly lead to an increase in unsafe abortions and a decrease in prenatal care, resulting in life-long disabilities for some women and a rise in maternal deaths,” she said

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