Landmark
decision confirms right to an abortion up to 12th week of gestation
Supreme
court upholds
Mexico
City abortion law
by
Human Rights Watch
In
an historic August 28 decision, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that
Mexico City’s law decriminalizing abortion during the first
12
weeks of gestation is constitutional. In a publicly broadcast
proceeding, the court voted 8-to-3 in favor of upholding the Mexico
City law, which came into force in 2007. A written decision was
expected from the court within days.
“This
decision ensures Mexico is observing fundamental human rights
law,”
said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights
Watch. “Decriminalizing abortion saves women’s
lives and respects
their equality and autonomy. We applaud the court’s decision,
and
hope governments around Latin America take notice.”
According
to figures from the Federal District, more than 12,000 women have
availed themselves of safe and legal abortion services in Mexico City
since the law entered into force in April 2007.
In
many places in the world where abortion is prohibited or legally
restricted, women often seek abortions in clandestine and unsafe
conditions, contributing to maternal disability and mortality.
Mexico’s Supreme Court decision will help to ensure that
women in
the nation’s most populated city have access to this basic
health
care service and do not have to resort to unsafe and potentially
life-threatening procedures.
