Mexico’s Supreme Court Paves the Way for Widespread Access to Abortion
In a landmark decision, Mexico’s Supreme Court has decriminalized abortion across the nation, significantly expanding access to the procedure. This ruling builds upon an earlier decision that granted state officials the authority to permit abortion on a state-by-state basis.
This monumental move now ensures that abortion is legally accessible in all of Mexico’s 32 states, up from just 12. This decision is particularly noteworthy in Mexico, a country predominantly influenced by Catholicism, with a population of 130 million. It also highlights a broader trend in Latin America, where several nations, including Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Guyana, have either legalized or decriminalized abortion.
This regional shift stands in contrast to the United States, where the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court placed the nation among a small group of countries making it more challenging for women to terminate pregnancies.
The Supreme Court of Mexico, in a concise statement announcing its decision, declared that penalizing abortion was “unconstitutional” and a violation of women’s human rights.
This ruling reflects profound changes in Mexican society and its institutions. While much of Mexico retains its cultural conservatism, decades of feminist activism have reshaped public opinion regarding women’s rights. Additionally, reproductive rights groups have diligently pushed for abortion cases to be heard by the Supreme Court.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court saw shifts in its composition, with some conservative justices departing. Unexpectedly, Chief Justice Arturo Zaldívar Lelo de Larrea, raised by devoutly Catholic parents, emerged as a champion of abortion rights during this pivotal moment.