Rio de Janeiro, October 30 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Thousands of people gathered in Rio de Janeiro and other cities of the country in order to protest against a bill restricting women's reproductive rights. 

Protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly chanting slogans like “The pill remains, Cunha go away,” referring to the President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Cunha, who supports the bill.

“We will not allow the violence we are victims of to become institutionalized, and we will not let our rights be taken away,” said Marcelli Cipriana, activist and creator of the campaign “Say no to Bill 5.069” that has received over 18,000 supporters so far.      

Demonstrators held one-minute of silence as a tribute to victims of illegal abortion.  About one Brazilian woman dies every four days from illegal abortions according to the World Health Organization.

Meanwhile, inside the National Assembly, lawmakers were approving the final report on abortion handed by the Investigative Commission.  The report's proposals included the vote of a bill that would require hospitals to warn the police every time a woman is examined over abortion-related issues.  

On October 21st, a lower chamber's commission approved a bill seeking to limit access to the morning-after pill and information on abortion for rape victims. The bill removed from a previous law access to the morning-after pill for rape victims, as well as the obligation to provide them with information about their rights and available health services.   

The bill also compels rape victims to file a complaint at the police station and go through a physical examination before she is entitled to access health services.    

However, many reports have internationally demonstrated that rape victims in general are reluctant to report their assault, mainly for shame, and fear of reprisals.    

A public security report from Forum Seguranca registered more than 50,000 rapes in 2013 in Brazil – corresponding to an average of almost six rapes per hour, or one every 10 minutes. The investigation found that only 35 percent of rape victims reported the assault.       

In Brazil, rape victims have allowed to abort since 1940 – as well as pregnant women whose health is at risk, and whose fetus is deformed.