Mexico ends federal ban on abortion, but patchwork of state restrictions remains
- The ruling that laws prohibiting the procedure are unconstitutional and violate women’s rights extended Latin American’s trend of widening abortion access
- Some 20 Mexican states, however, still criminalise abortion. Those laws weren’t affected, but abortion rights advocates will likely ask states follow the ruling
A Mexican Supreme Court ruling that invalidated all federal criminal penalties for abortion continued a regional trend of widening access to the procedure, but left in place a patchwork of varying state restrictions.
The High Court ordered on Wednesday that abortion be removed from the federal penal code, and will require the federal public health service and all federal health institutions to offer abortion to anyone who requests it.
That will mean access for millions of Mexicans. The social security service and other federal institutions provide healthcare to most people who work in the formal economy.
“No woman or pregnant person, nor any health worker, will be able to be punished for abortion,” the Information Group for Chosen Reproduction, known by its Spanish initials GIRE, said in a statement.
Today is a day of victory and justice for Mexican women!
Abortions are not widely prosecuted as a crime, but many doctors refuse to provide them, citing the law.
Some 20 Mexican states, however, still criminalise abortion. Those laws were not affected by the Supreme Court ruling, but abortion rights advocates will likely ask state judges to follow its logic.