A recent historic ruling by Mexico’s highest court to decriminalize abortion on the federal level was another example of progress by the Latin American Green Wave movement. Named for the green bandanas worn by its members, the movement advocates for expanded abortion access throughout Latin America.
The ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice on September 6 established that criminalization in the Federal Penal Code is a violation of human rights and affirmed that federal authorities cannot criminalize any woman, transgender person or non-binary person seeking abortion services at federal health care institutions. The ruling also affirms that health care personnel cannot be prosecuted for providing abortion services.
The Center for Reproductive Rights is a member of the Green Wave movement, and after the ruling, Center leaders discussed the impact of the ruling with several media outlets.
The victory in Mexico marks “a trend in our region in which we are understanding the importance of not regulating abortion through the penal code or the criminal law, and, in a better way, regulating it as an issue of public health and as an issue of human rights,” said Cristina Rosero, Senior Legal Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean, in an interview appearing in Democracy Now. “And this is an extremely good step.”
As a result of the ruling, individuals nationwide will be able to access abortion care at federal health facilities, even in states with laws banning abortion.
What is the Green Wave?
The Green Wave movement— named for the green bandanas worn by its members—advocates to expand abortion access throughout Latin America.
“About 70% of Mexico’s population is subscribed to the federal health system, so that means we will see a massive and collective impact after this decision,” said Carmen Cecilia Martinez, Associate Director of Legal Strategies for Latin America and the Caribbean, in an interview with USA Today.
In the interview, Martinez outlined how the Mexico ruling aligns with recommendations by the World Health Organization and discussed the recent progress by the Green Wave to expand abortion access in countries such as Argentina and Colombia.
“With this victory, the Green Wave continues to grow and expand, achieving greater protections for women in Latin America,” said Martinez. “We are celebrating.”
Rosero added that the ruling “shows how right now Latin America is actually leading the conversation on the protection of reproductive rights. And, of course, this milestone in Mexico keeps building on that.”
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Source link : https://reproductiverights.org/leaders-mexico-abortion-decriminalization/
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Publish date : 2023-09-20 03:00:00
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