Background and Context
Guanajuato, one of Mexico’s most conservative states, recently voted against decriminalizing abortion in a local legislative decision that contrasts the nation’s trend towards legalization. This development comes after Mexico’s Supreme Court declared abortion laws unconstitutional in 2021, rendering them invalid in several states’ penal codes.
Current State of Abortion Legislation
As of now, 19 out of Mexico’s 32 states have repealed laws that criminalize abortion. However, Guanajuato’s conservative legislature, controlled by the PAN party, rejected a decriminalization proposal with a 19-17 vote. The initial vote resulted in a tie, but a Green Party legislator changed her stance, leading to the rejection.
Impact and Social Context
Verónica Cruz, leader of Las Libres, a non-governmental organization that advises women seeking to terminate their pregnancies, stated to AFP that despite Guanajuato’s legislative decision, there is a “social decriminalization” in the state. Women still seek abortion procedures at local public health centers, defying the law.
Political Landscape and NGO Involvement
Guanajuato has been governed by the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN) for three decades. In Mexico, abortions are primarily conducted using medication, with non-governmental organizations like Las Libres distributing these drugs for free to women in states where abortion remains illegal.
Mexican NGOs have even assisted women in the United States, where the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current status of abortion laws in Guanajuato? Despite the national trend towards legalization, Guanajuato’s conservative legislature voted against decriminalizing abortion, maintaining the existing laws.
- How many Mexican states have repealed abortion laws? Nineteen out of Mexico’s 32 states have eliminated laws that criminalize abortion.
- What role do non-governmental organizations play in Mexico’s abortion landscape? NGOs like Las Libres provide free medication for abortions in states where it remains illegal and have assisted women in the United States, where abortion rights were recently overturned.
