What Does Mexico Think About Abortion Now That It Is No Longer A Crime?

 

In a world full of controversy where does one draw the line between right and wrong?

 

On September 7th, 2021 the Mexican Supreme Court decided that penalization of abortion is now unconstitutional. Before this law was passed, women could face up to three years in prison and accept a fine for having an abortion in Mexico.

 

When one decides to abort a child it affects more than one party and the supreme court took that decision away from the other parties and laid it in the hands of one perpetrator. A female may not have sex with the intention of having an abortion, but is taking a human life okay just because someone simply made a mistake; Mexicans think not.

 

On September 12th, 2021 many Mexicans were lined up outside of the Supreme Court in protest with dozens of people kneeling in prayer in front of the court. With the new law bringing into play views such as, “I agree that women should do whatever they want with their body, but not this issue. We’re talking about a human being.” -unnamed source.

 

As well as Eduardo Verastegui a Mexican actor states: “Today thousands of Mexican babies have been condemned to die. Mexico cries today; Mexico shakes for its daughters and sons that will never be born.” (CBC News 2021)

 

While feminist campaigners celebrated the decision, which allows Mexico to become the most populous Latin American country to allow abortion, conservative lawmakers and the strong Catholic Church were disappointed.

 

While others such as Justice Luis Maria Aguilar said this is a historic step and “never again will a woman or a person with the capacity to carry a child be criminally prosecuted,” (Person, & Lizbeth Diaz, L. G, 2021)

 

As well as Ana Margarita Rios Farjat states: “I’m against stigmatizing those who make this decision to undergo an abortion which I believe is difficult, to begin with, due to moral and social burdens. It shouldn’t be burdened as well by the law. Nobody gets voluntarily pregnant thinking about getting an abortion.” Person, & (Lizbeth Diaz, L. G. 2021)

 

So whose opinion matters more? Despite the fact that 53% of Mexicans opposed the new abortion law, the Supreme Court still passed the law. This decision may be supported because it allows a lady to safely terminate her kid rather than injuring herself and putting herself in danger.

 

Every year, between 750,000 and a million Mexican women have abortions, whether they are legal or not. (Irvine, B. 2021) Mexico is mostly a Roman Catholic country. The church was a powerful institution throughout colonial times and after Mexico’s independence, but a reform movement in the mid-nineteenth century severely reduced the church’s engagement in daily life. Anti-clerical protests resulted in bloodshed during the Cristero Rebellion, which lasted from 1926 to 1929. ( Foundation, T. R, 2021)

 

The Mexican Supreme Court decided that the penalization of abortion is now unconstitutional and more than fifty percent of Mexico disagrees with this new law. Yet this was still passed, so this now makes Mexico a destination for places like Texas and Mississippi restricting laws. This decision may be supported because it allows a woman to be able to safely terminate her child rather than injuring herself and putting herself in danger, yet it takes the life of her child.

 

The dilemma that many people will face is whether or not a society’s own beliefs outweigh the rights of others. This issue is similar to the persecution of same-sex couples around the world with many people citing religious beliefs to excuse discrimination.

 

However, regardless of one’s beliefs, the rights of other people, especially reproductive rights should be prioritized.