MEXICO CITY – In a landmark ruling for abortion rights in Mexico, the nation’s Supreme Court unanimously decided Tuesday that it is unconstitutional to criminally punish …
MEXICO CITY – In a landmark ruling for abortion rights in Mexico, the nation’s Supreme Court unanimously decided Tuesday that it is unconstitutional to criminally punish abortion. The court’s decision immediately affects abortion policies in Mexico’s northern state of Coahuila – where strict abortion laws were the subject of the court review – and will effectively decriminalize abortion across the country as well. The ruling establishes “obligatory criteria for all of the country’s judges,” said court President Arturo Zaldívar. “From now on, you will not be able to, without violating the court’s criteria and the constitution, charge any woman who aborts under the circumstances this court has ruled as valid.” Abortion law in Coahuila, which borders Texas, previously threatened up to three years of jailtime for women who receive illegal abortions.
