Women in Argentina who want to terminate a pregnancy which is the result of rape will be guaranteed the right to do so under new measures.

Abortion is permitted in Argentina if the pregnancy is due to rape or in instances when the mother’s health or life is in danger, but campaigners say the law is not consistently implemented.

New measures which come into force on Friday will curb the power hospitals hold in choosing whether to provide women with abortions.

Gines Gonzalez Garcia, a health minister, said: “The protocol will be used as a guide, especially in cases where the law clearly allows for the interruption of pregnancies”.

The politician, who was sworn in on Tuesday after moderate Peronist President Alberto Fernandez was inaugurated, added: “We are respectful of conscientious objection but conscientious objection cannot be used as an institutional alibi for not complying with the law”.

Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Pro-choice campaigners stood outside the Stormont Estate on Monday 21 October with the word "decriminalised" spelt out in front of them as some of Stormont’s assembly members returned to the chamber for the first time in nearly three years. A group of Northern Irish lawmakers returned to parliament in a failed last-minute protest at the decriminalisation of abortion in the region. AFP via Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Attendees at a pro-choice press conference embraced one another ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage in Belfast. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A member of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice smiled as she and others marched in support of abortion rights in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following a pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice groups Alliance for Choice and Pro Life held demonstrations outside Stormont on Monday 21 October as a last-minute attempt to stop the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland was made by the Democratic Unionist party. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A rally was held in Dublin City centre on Monday 21 October in celebration of the eminent decriminalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Equal marriage campaigners Martha Brown and Louise McCullough celebrated at Maverick Bar in Belfast as same-sex marriage and abortion were legalised in Northern Ireland. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice made their way to Stormont carrying abortion rights signs. Getty Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Kellie Turtle and Emma Campbell embraced as members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice held a press conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Activist Ashleigh Topley wiped away her tears during the Alliance for Choice press conference on Monday 21 October. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of Alliance for Group embraced one another after their pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Abortion rights campaigners marched through the streets of Belfast ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Getty

Abortion rights activists argue local hospitals held too much clout in choosing which cases of abortion were legally permitted.

Latin America has some of the world’s most stringent restrictions on abortion. Only Uruguay, Cuba and Guyana have legalised the procedure in the region, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights.

A handful of countries – most of whom are in Central America – ban abortion under any circumstances.

Argentina’s former health secretary quit last month after a protocol he had signed which was aimed at making abortion more available was revoked by then-President Mauricio Macri – a conservative defeated by Mr Fernandez in the October election.

Mr Fernandez has said he is in favour of abortion rights.

Proposals to widen the availability of abortion have been batted back and forth between the lower house and Senate for years.

The Ministry of Health estimates there are at least 350,000 illegal abortions in the country every year but international human rights groups say the number could be higher in reality.

Forced child pregnancy is a big problem in Argentina and wider Latin America.

Tens of thousands of girls in the region become pregnant after being raped every year, according to research by the Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Defence of Women’s Rights (Cladem) covering 14 countries.

The World Health Organisation estimates that each year between five per cent to 12 per cent of maternal deaths globally can be attributed to unsafe abortion – with the annual cost of treating major complications from unsafe abortion estimated at $553m (£435m).