In the first three months of 2026, nearly 900 women in Tlaxcala sought accompaniment from the Red por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (Ddeser) to navigate the process of abortion care. This surge in demand comes after a landmark December 2025 ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) decriminalized abortion in the state, but access to safe and legal abortion services remains uneven and often relies on the efforts of non-governmental organizations like Ddeser.
Approximately 40% of the 897 women supported by Ddeser during this period were girls, adolescents, or victims of sexual violence, highlighting the particularly vulnerable populations impacted by restrictive reproductive healthcare access. Rosario Texis Zúñiga, director of Ddeser–Tlaxcala, emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive sex education to empower young people to identify and report abuse, and to understand available contraceptive methods. The organization received over 1,700 requests for information in the same timeframe, demonstrating a significant demand for reproductive health resources.
The decriminalization ruling by the SCJN, while a pivotal step, has not automatically translated into readily available services throughout Tlaxcala. Ddeser and other feminist collectives are now advocating for legislative changes to the state’s Health Law to guarantee access to abortion care within public hospitals and clinics. Currently, the responsibility for providing this care often falls to organizations like Ddeser, a situation they argue should be rectified by a fully funded and accessible public health system.
A Gap in Public Healthcare Access
Despite the SCJN’s ruling, access to abortion services in Tlaxcala remains limited. While some hospitals, including the Hospital Regional Emilio Sánchez Piedras de Tzompantepec and the Hospital Comunitario de Zacatelco – both part of the IMSS–Bienestar public health system – have begun offering abortion care, access is often restricted to women who are victims of violence or whose health is at risk during pregnancy. Even at these facilities, Texis Zúñiga reports that staff frequently refer women to organizations like Ddeser for accompaniment, indicating a systemic reluctance or lack of capacity within the public health system to fully implement the court’s ruling.
“It’s good that they send them to us, but it’s the state’s responsibility to guarantee that right and ensure women can access safe and legal services,” Texis Zúñiga stated. This reliance on external organizations places a significant burden on already stretched resources and creates potential barriers to access for women who may not be aware of or able to connect with these support networks.
Vulnerability and Stigma for Young People
The situation is particularly challenging for adolescent girls and young women. Nearly 300 of the women Ddeser assisted in the first quarter of 2026 were under the age of 18. Texis Zúñiga points to a concerning pattern of adolescent pregnancies stemming from sexual violence, both within families and in relationships. Even when young people are able to access legal abortion care at designated facilities, many are hesitant due to fears of revictimization, criminalization, or stigmatization by healthcare personnel. The limited availability of services – concentrated in just two hospitals in the state – further exacerbates these challenges, particularly for those living in remote areas.
The Centro de Justicia para Mujeres in Tlaxcala attended to 41,897 incidents of violence between 2023 and 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), as reported by La Jornada de Oriente, underscoring the prevalence of gender-based violence in the state and its connection to unintended pregnancies.
Legislative Resistance and the Role of the State
Ddeser and allied feminist groups are actively lobbying the Tlaxcala state Congress to amend the Health Law to explicitly recognize abortion as an essential health service. They argue that this legislative change is necessary to ensure the availability of medications, trained personnel, and adequate facilities to provide comprehensive abortion care. However, they face resistance from some lawmakers who cite moral or religious objections, or express concerns about potential political repercussions.
“The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation saved them a problem,” Texis Zúñiga said, referring to the lawmakers, implying that the court’s ruling removed the need for a potentially divisive legislative debate. Despite this, progress has been slow.
The state’s Secretariat of Women (SMET) has also been criticized for not prioritizing abortion access as a key component of its operate, focusing instead on addressing gender-based violence and economic empowerment. Advocates argue that true empowerment cannot be achieved without bodily autonomy and the right to make decisions about one’s own reproductive health.
Looking Ahead
Margarita Cadena, director of the feminist collective “Jijas del Maíz,” emphasized the urgency of legislative action, stating that “reproductive justice cannot wait.” The current situation in Tlaxcala highlights the challenges of translating legal rulings into tangible improvements in healthcare access, particularly in contexts where deeply held beliefs and political considerations impede implementation.
The next key step will be the state Congress’s consideration of proposed amendments to the Health Law. Advocates are preparing to continue their lobbying efforts and mobilize public support to pressure lawmakers to act. The outcome of this legislative process will determine whether women in Tlaxcala can fully exercise their right to safe and legal abortion care, as affirmed by the nation’s highest court.
If you or someone you know needs support related to reproductive health or gender-based violence, resources are available. You can locate information and assistance through Ddeser at their Facebook page.
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