The Supreme Court of Justice decriminalized abortion throughout Mexico

The Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico decriminalized abortion throughout the country. This is a historic decision that will prevent any woman from going to jail for terminating her pregnancy in that country, with strong influence from the Catholic Church.

This Wednesday, the ministers of the Mexican supreme court unanimously approved an injunction promoted by a civil organization that annuls the section of the Federal Penal Code that criminalized abortion.

The highest court said in its account on the social network

The action was presented by the Information Group on Chosen Reproduction (GIRE), which also indicated in its X account that thanks to this decision, abortion services will be accessible in all state health centers in Mexico.

Two years ago, the Supreme Court of Justice had annulled several articles of a law in the northern state of Coahuila in which abortion was considered a crime and both women and personnel who could help them were criminalized, which represented a great advance in the Mexican women’s fight to decriminalize abortion.

Pro-abortion march in Mexico City, in 2018. Photo: Xinhua

Last week, a new Mexican state, Aguascalientes, joined the list of entities to decriminalize abortion, also due to a ruling by the Supreme Court.

In September 2021, a similar ruling by the supreme court set a precedent, albeit with local jurisdiction. It was when, also unanimously, it invalidated article 196 of the Penal Code of Coahuila, a northern state, which imposed one to three years in prison “on the woman who voluntarily performs her abortion or the person who causes her to have an abortion with her consent.” .

Twelve states have already decriminalized abortion in Mexico

The decision comes amid a trend in Latin America in general to move in favor of abortion but when several states in the United States are moving in the opposite direction, increasing restrictions.

In Mexico, currently 12 of 22 states have already decriminalized the interruption of pregnancy.

Members of an anti-abortion group demonstrate before the Supreme Court of Mexico. Photo: EFE

The first Mexican state to decriminalize and legislate on the right to abortion was Mexico City 15 years ago. Oaxaca followed in 2019. As of 2021, the trickle of legal changes has been continuous and is currently also decriminalized in Veracruz, Hidalgo, Baja California, Colima, Sinaloa, Guerrero, Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo.

However, in a country where the Catholic Church has important influence, there are still problems in being able to access an abortion in many places where it was decriminalized.