“Green Tide” Reaches Mexico as Oaxaca Decriminalizes Abortion

“Green Tide” Reaches Mexico as Oaxaca Decriminalizes Abortion
Oaxaca's monumental decision last week to decriminalize abortion is part of a larger "Green Tide" movement across Latin America.

October 3, 2019
Cecilia Nowell

The chambers of the state legislature in Oaxaca, Mexico, exploded with shouts of joy and rage September 25 as the region voted to decriminalize first-trimester abortions in a 24-10 vote. In the gallery, Catholic protesters chanted, “Assassins! Assassins!” while awaiting the vote. But when the decision was announced, feminist activists, clad in the green bandanas that have become the symbol of the Latin American pro-abortion movement, broke out in shouts of “Latin America will be entirely feminist.”

The vote exemplified the division between Mexicos deep Catholic, traditionally anti-abortion roots and its growing feminist movements. This tension was on full display in the chambers. Feminist activist Patricia Matus was one of the women celebrating in the legislature when the vote was announced. “The environment was horrible,” she said, describing pro-life demonstrators holding mass outside the state building, a verbal argument between male and female representatives that nearly delayed the vote, and shouting in the gallery.

Continued: https://nacla.org/news/2019/10/03/oaxaca-abortion-decriminalization-green-tide

‘We have made history’: Mexico’s Oaxaca state decriminalises abo

'We have made history': Mexico's Oaxaca state decriminalises abortion
Lawmakers voted to scrap restrictions on abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in a win for reproductive rights advocates

David Agren
Thu 26 Sep 2019

Women’s rights activists in Mexico are celebrating after the southern state of Oaxaca decriminalised abortion in a move that they hope signals broader reforms to ensure reproductive rights in what is still a conservative and deeply Catholic country.

Lawmakers voted 24-10 on Wednesday to scrap restrictions on abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, despite vocal opposition from the Catholic church. Opponents – including priests and the religious – screamed “killers!” at the lawmakers as the vote occurred, while women in the green handkerchiefs of the pro-choice movement chanted, “Yes we can!”

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/26/we-have-made-history-mexicos-oaxaca-state-decriminalises-abortion

MEXICO – Bill tabled to reform the Criminal Code to legalise abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy

MEXICO – Bill tabled to reform the Criminal Code to legalise abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Aug 16, 2091

On 30 July 2019, the governing Morena Party’s parliamentarians’ group has tabled a bill to reform the Criminal Code to legalise abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so that women are not criminalised and are guaranteed a safe abortion on the health service. The initiative was led by Deputies Nancy Nápoles Pacheco, María de Jesús Galicia Ramos and María del Rosario Elizalde Vázquez. The bill also includes the provision of comprehensive sexuality education, facilitating access to effective contraceptive methods, prevention campaigns to disseminate information about women’s right to health and health care, and reproductive and sexual rights – as well as the right to privacy and the right to decide.

Continued: https://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/mexico-bill-tabled-to-reform-the-criminal-code-to-legalise-abortion-in-the-first-12-weeks-of-pregnancy/

Mexican president considers abortion referendum

Mexican president considers abortion referendum
López Obrador is unlikely to push for legalization now, as he needs Catholic Church to help fight violence.

John Burger
Mar 27, 2019

Andres Manuel López Obrador did a good job keeping the abortion issue out of his campaign for president of Mexico last year. But he might be confronting it now.

At a recent celebration for International Women’s Day, the Mexican President had to deflect charges that he wants a referendum on abortion.

Continued: https://aleteia.org/2019/03/27/mexican-president-considers-abortion-referendum/

Mexico – Bill presented to legalize abortion via constitutional amendment

MEXICO: 28 SEPTEMBER AND MORE
by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Oct 30, 2018

A few days after thousands of women took to the streets of Mexico City to demand the decriminalisation of abortion on International Safe Abortion Day, the party PRD put the issue on the table of the Mexica Congress. Senator Leonor Noyola, with support from her caucus, presented a bill that seeks to add three new paragraphs to Article 1 of the Mexican Constitution. Article 1 currently recognises the human rights of all Mexicans and the obligation of the State to protect them. These new rights would be:

- The right to self-determination and the free development of personality, so that all people can freely exercise their abilities to live in a dignified manner.
- The right to a free and dignified death, as well as the obligation of the institutions involved to guarantee the exercise of this right.
- Free access to the termination of pregnancy before 12 weeks of gestation, and the obligation of health institutions to ensure the care and protection of women who want to exercise it.

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/mexico-28-september-and-more/