The Author of the Free Womb Law
The Free Womb Law (Portuguese: Lei do Ventre Livre) was authored by José Maria da Silva Paranhos, the Viscount of Rio Branco. He was a prominent Brazilian politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Brazil.
Key Details:
- Official Name: Law No. 2,040.
- Enacted: September 28, 1871.
- Significance: This law declared that all children born to enslaved women in Brazil after that date were legally free. It was a significant, albeit gradual, step towards the full abolition of slavery in 1888.