Purple Smoke Fills Streets as Activists Target Mexico’s Abortion Law

Video – 6:48 minutes
Apr 29, 2026

Feminist activists gathered outside the Congress of Mexico City to mark the 19th anniversary of partial abortion decriminalisation, demanding the complete removal of abortion from the penal code. Protesters used purple smoke flares, chants, and symbolic actions, including breaking a piñata representing the penal code, as part of their demonstration.

Speaking during the rally, activists from the Information Group on Chosen Reproduction (GIRE) argued that abortion should be treated as a healthcare service rather than a criminal offence. They warned that restrictive laws continue to undermine reproductive rights and bodily autonomy across the region, calling on Latin America to defend the right to choose amid concerns of a broader rollback of abortion access.

Abortion is currently legal in Mexico City within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, but remains restricted beyond that period except under specific circumstances such as rape or health risks.

Continued: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBc8b-dB2i0

29.04.2026

Videos/Images

abortion decriminalization

GIRE

Information Group on Reproductive Choice

Protest against abortion law amendments in Latvia

Oct 21, 2025
LSM+ English (Latvian Public Media), Madara Līcīte (Latvian Television), Anna Apīne (Latvijas Radio ārštata žurnāliste)

On Tuesday, 21 October, a protest was held in front of the Saeima against the amendments to the Law on Sexual and Reproductive Health, which aim to restrict abortions. The picket was attended mostly by younger people. They held posters calling for the proposed amendments to be rejected.

Around 250 people turned up for the picket. The protesters shouted various slogans. Protesters stressed that the decision to terminate a pregnancy should remain with the woman and that the State should not restrict her right to choose.

Continued: https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/22.10.2025-protest-against-abortion-law-amendments-in-latvia.a619310/

21.10.2025

News

Jānis Grasbergs

Latvia's Law on Sexual and Reproductive Health

Dominican protesters rally against a proposed set of laws on abortion, corruption and rights

By DÁNICA COTO
July 10, 2025

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Dominican Republic’s congressional building on Thursday to rally against proposed new laws that would uphold an abortion ban, allow discrimination based on sexual orientation and exempt churches, municipalities and others from criminal liability.

The conservative Caribbean country currently operates on a penal code dating from 1884, and efforts to reform it in the past 23 years have failed.

Continued: https://apnews.com/article/dominican-republic-penal-code-abortion-ban-3cf907c3d3da30cf4781b3530d54bbf7

10.07.2025

News

abortion ban

Coalition for Women’s Lives and Rights

Croatia Feminists Protest Anti-Abortion, Anti-LGBTQ+ Gathering in Zagreb

Ahead of a closed conference of ultraconservatives in Croatia's capital, rights activists staged a protest against what they called the 'clear and dangerous' goals of the movement known as Vision Network.

Vuk Tesija, Osijek
September 25, 2024

As members of a global ultraconservative network, Vision Network, met for a behind-closed-doors conference in Croatia’s capital, a protest action was held on Wednesday in Zagreb’s European Square with the message: “Not in our city, we know your agenda.”

The protest was staged by the fAKTIV – Feminist Collective, an informal organisation whose activities include the fight for women’s rights, countering gender-based violence against women and advocacy for reproductive and sexual rights.

Continued: https://balkaninsight.com/2024/09/25/croatia-feminists-protest-anti-abortion-anti-lgbtq-gathering-in-zagreb/

25.09.2024

News

Agenda Europe

fAktiv

fATKIV - Feminist Collective

Women’s rights groups protest against abortion law in Poland

"We voted for the government that promised us civil unions," a protester said. "We voted for the government that promised us abortion."

By Euronews with EBU
24/07/2024

Polish women's rights groups in Warsaw have protested against the parliament's rejection of a bill aimed at changing the country's restrictive abortion law. Several women's groups organised the protest on Tuesday, the final day of session for the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament, before the summer recess began.

On 12 July, the lower house rejected the bill decriminalising abortion, which stated that anyone who assisted a woman in terminating her pregnancy would not face prosecution, with 215 MPs voting in favour and 218 voting against.

Continued: https://www.euronews.com/health/2024/07/24/womens-rights-groups-protest-against-abortion-law-in-poland

24.07.2024

Jarosław Kaczyńsk

Law and Justice party

Malta – ‘Pro-mother, pro-choice’ crowds gather in Valletta in support of abortion

Two Labour MPs lend their support as protesters gather in front of courts

September 30, 2023
Daniel Ellul

Pro-choice activists gathered in Valletta on Saturday, calling for the decriminalisation of abortion and the provision of abortion services in the healthcare system.

Holding banners reading 'pro-mother, pro-choice', the protesters chanted slogans such "not the church, not the state... women will decide their fate".

The manifestation comes two months after Malta changed its abortion laws for the first time, allowing doctors to terminate a pregnancy if a woman's life is at immediate risk or her health is in "grave jeopardy which may lead to her death".

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/promother-prochoice-crowds-gather-valletta-support-abortion.1058475

30.09.2023

News

Andrea Dibben

Cyrus Engerer

International Safe Abortion Day

Isabel Stabile

Marie Claire Gatt

pro-choice protest

prosecuting women for abortion

Randolph De Battista

Voice for Choice Coalition

Italy – Feminists protest against Meloni over abortion rights

By Federica Pascale | EURACTIV.it
Nov 27, 2022

Feminists protested in Rome against new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, calling her a fascist and saying her government threatens the right to abortion in the country.

The protest aimed first at decrying the violence perpetrated against women and showing support for Iranian women but turned into denouncing Meloni’s government which protesters claimed threatened the right to abortion.

Continued: https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/feminists-protest-against-meloni-over-abortion-rights/

27.11.2022

Featured

News

abortion denial

conscientious objectors

‘It’s not pro-life, it’s pro-misogyny’: Bristol marches on abortion rights

A protest on Saturday saw speakers bring to light the murky legal picture around abortion in the UK, just two weeks after the US Supreme Court effectively banned abortions for millions.

4th July, 2022
Aphra Evans

The US Supreme Court’s decision two weeks ago, which will deny millions access to abortion in the country, has caused anxiety for women in the UK by bringing to light our nation’s confusing legislation around reproductive rights. On Saturday, people gathered in Bristol’s Castle Park to hear from speakers about the murky legal picture in the UK, before marching in solidarity with US women through the centre.

Continued: https://thebristolcable.org/2022/07/its-not-pro-life-its-pro-misogyny-bristol-marches-on-abortion-rights/

04.07.2022

Featured

News

Bristol Sex Workers Collective

Ukraine activist in nude protest against Polish abortion ban

AFP
Published Monday, October 26, 2020

KYIV, UKRAINE -- A member of radical feminist group Femen staged a naked protest outside the Polish embassy in Kyiv on Monday against a near-total ban on abortion in the EU country.

The English words "My body is my
choice" were scrawled on her torso. She held coat hangers in her mouth, a
protest symbol representing illegal abortions.

Continued: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ukraine-activist-in-nude-protest-against-polish-abortion-ban-1.5160801

26.10.2020