The Handsmaid's Tale and Abortion in Brazil: the Absence of Freedom of Woman over Her Own Body

Abstract

The research analyzes the criminalization of abortion in Brazil as a violation of sexual and reproductive rights of women. The general objective is, from the presentation of the book The Handmaid's Tale, the analysis of the abortion in Brazil under a criminal and constitutional perspective, focusing on the decision of the Supreme Court, in the Habeas Corpus n° 124.306, tried in 2016. As regards to the methodology, the research is qualitative, descriptive and explanatory nature in relation to objectives, using the deductive method, built with bibliographic and documentary sources. It is concluded that abortion must be understood as a public health issue, whose ban violates women's rights and freedoms, and that the legislation should be amended on the basis of scientific research related to the theme and the judgment rendered.