Mexican State Legislatures Make Abortion Illegal

A disturbing trend is arising in Mexico, as state legislatures are banning abortion in a wave of individual state decisions. Abortion rights advocates say the trend will force women to more dangerous and clandestine forms of abortion.  —JCL

The Los Angeles Times:

Abortion rights activists dreamed of legislative victories across Mexico after the Supreme Court last year upheld a Mexico City law allowing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Instead, the opposite has happened.

In state after state, antiabortion forces have won changes to local constitutions declaring that life begins at conception and explicitly granting legal rights to the unborn. In all, 17 state legislatures have approved such measures, often with minimal debate, since the August 2008 court decision validating Mexico City’s law.

The Gulf coast state of Veracruz last month became the most recent state to do so. Its measure also called on the Mexican Congress to consider a similar amendment to the nation’s Constitution.

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AP / Gregory Bull

Anti-abortion protesters march in Mexico City in 2007 prior to a decision by the Supreme Court to allow abortions in the capital. After a series of state legislature decisions, Mexico City remains the only place in Mexico where abortion is legal.