Narayan AmmachchiMexico’s Supreme Court ruled that the prohibition of abortion is unconstitutional, making it legal nationwide.
The ruling argues that criminalizing abortion violates the human rights of women and people with the capacity to bear children.
According to the verdict, the voluntary interruption of pregnancy cannot be punished if it is practiced in health institutions administered by the federal government.
The ruling was widely regarded as a major victory for women’s rights. It is expected that all women in Mexico will now have access to safe and legal abortion services, regardless of their income, social status or place of residence.
In a huge win for bodily autonomy, Mexico's Supreme Court made the landmark ruling to decriminalise abortion 🙌 For more global LGBTQ+ and pride-related stories, follow our new Instagram account @pnprideforall pic.twitter.com/kO43PpPIjB
— PinkNews (@PinkNews) September 18, 2023
The ruling, however, does not directly invalidate the laws of states that still criminalize abortion. The discrepancy is likely to lead to challenges to these laws in court, and it is possible that other states will follow suit and legalize abortion in the coming years.
Feminist groups in Mexico argue that some 200 women were detained as of September 2021 for crimes related to abortion. This is despite the fact that abortion was already legal in Mexico in certain cases, such as rape, fetal malformation or risk to the mother’s life and health.
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