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 Proposed by the conservative Viva Party, the law for the protection
of life and the family was unexpectedly approved by a large majority
of lawmakers including allies of President Alejandro Giammattei.
The legislation had been on ice since 2018 and still has to be
published in the official gazette to come into force.
The penalty for an abortion was increased from between five to 10
years to 25 years - except when the life of the mother is in danger.
The law also prohibits teaching children and young adults about
sexual diversity and gender ideology and stipulates that no
orientations other than heterosexuality are "normal", the draft text
shows.
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 Activists and some politicians have criticized
the law, which was passed on International
Woman's Day.
Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, Jordan Rodas,
said he would challenge it on human rights
grounds.
"It violates human rights, it violates the
international agreements ratified by Guatemala,
it is a setback to freedoms," Rodas told
reporters outside Congress.
Some lawmakers argued that the law promotes
hatred, homophobia and unfairly criminalizes
women.
(Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Editing by Robert
Birsel)
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