Mexico’s Supreme Court Decriminalizes Abortion Nationwide
Mexico’s supreme court has made a historic ruling to decriminalize abortion across the entire country. This comes two years after the court ruled in favor of a challenge to the existing law in the state of Coahuila, deeming criminal penalties for terminating pregnancies as unconstitutional.
However, the slow progress in repealing penal codes at both state and federal levels had left many women without access to safe and legal abortions. The new ruling now legalizes abortion throughout all 32 states in Mexico.
The supreme court stated that denying women the possibility of termination violated their human rights. The head of the court, Arturo Zaldívar, emphasized that “in cases of rape, no girl can be forced to become a mother.” He highlighted the severity of the violation, particularly for minors, and stressed the importance of analyzing the issue from the perspective of their best interests.
With this ruling, the federal healthcare system can now provide abortion services, marking a significant step forward for reproductive rights in Mexico. The decision has been widely welcomed by women’s rights groups who have long advocated for access to safe and legal abortions.
Mexico City became the first state in the country to decriminalize abortion back in 2007, followed by a dozen others. However, the lack of facilities and limited awareness about women’s rights meant that many women were not aware they had the right to terminate a pregnancy. The Supreme Court’s decision is seen as crucial in addressing these issues and ensuring that women are aware of and can exercise their reproductive rights.
It is important to note that this ruling is likely to spur controversy among Mexico’s more conservative politicians and the Catholic Church, as Mexico is the second-largest Catholic nation in Latin America. However, the influence of the Church has been dwindling in recent years, and the Mexican government describes itself as staunchly secular.
This move adds to the growing trend across Latin America referred to as the “green wave,” which advocates for loosening abortion restrictions. Countries such as Colombia, Cuba, Uruguay, and Argentina already have legalized elective abortion. However, it is worth noting that Javier Milei, the frontrunner in Argentina’s upcoming presidential election, plans to ban the procedure if elected.
While some countries in Latin America allow abortions in cases of rape or health risks, others maintain outright bans, such as El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
The ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court marks a significant milestone for reproductive rights in the region and signals a step towards increased access to safe and legal abortions for women across Mexico.