Argentina's Senate has rejected a bill that would have legalized abortion in the first 14-weeks of pregnancy. But as CGTN's Joel Richards reports, both those for and against see it as a victory.

The historic debate lasted more than 15 hours. But while Argentina's senate voted 38-31 not to legalize abortion, the issue is far from over.

For six months, the subject of abortion has dominated the public's attention in this mostly Catholic country. Opinion has split into two camps - the green scarves symbolizing those in favor of broadening women's rights; and blue scarves -representing anti-abortion activists.

Surrounded by blue scarves, 23-year-old primary school teacher Ana is part of a group opposing abortion. She told CGTN she fundamentally disagreed with many parts of the proposed law.

ANA SCHOOL TEACHER "In a pregnancy, we are not talking about one body, we are talking about two. We must defend the rights of the baby in the woman, but also my rights as a woman. That is why we want to save both lives: the woman's and the unborn baby's."

But on the other side of Congress, there was a sea of green, where they talked and sang about a new kind of feminism a young generation of women.

ZECILIA PALMEIRO ACTIVIST, 'NOT ONE LESS' "For us, we already won in the streets. We already won in the streets, in public opinion. The subject of abortion is no longer a secret. It's no longer clandestine. It's out in the open, and if not today, we're going to win eventually. If not now, it's next year, but just gathering all these people with energy and ideas and the world we want to win in, we already won."

Cecilia Palmeiro and Veronica Gago are members of Not One Less, a feminist movement. They know the world is watching what happens in Argentina.

VERONICA GAGO ACTIVIST, 'NOT ONE LESS' "We feel this kind of internationalism is a very strong force for us. We also are feeling very proud of the trans-national resonance of our struggle."

While the defeat of the measure is viewed as a victory for the Catholic Church, many say it's not an end to the controversy.

JOEL RICHARDS BUENOS AIRES "Despite the result in the Senate, organizers say there were more than one and a half million people on the streets outside Congress. The feeling is that sooner, rather that later, Argentina will legalize abortion."

The penal code reform is due later this month, which could see abortion decriminalized for now. Joel Richards, CGTN, Buenos Aires.