Mexican Supreme Court upholds Mexico City abortion rights law

Over at RH Reality Check, blogger Laura Villa reports that the Mexican Supreme Court recently upheld a Mexico City law that allows pregnant women to choose abortion through the 12th week of pregnancy. Villa writes:

When I was born 27 years ago, it was into a city were women died because there was no access to legal and safe abortions. For nearly a decade I've worked to ensure that young women have access to sexual health information and services. In a country where most abortions are illegal, and those that aren't are nearly impossible to obtain, being able to control your own sexual health and prevent pregnancy takes on even greater meaning. It can save your life.

Villa reports that the Mexico City district legislative assembly passed this law in April 2007. Less than a month later, the law was challenged by a representative of the national human rights commission. Villa's post was published Sept. 5. She reports that the Court upheld the law the previous Thursday.

This is a big and much needed step. When society criminalizes women for making decisions about their reproductive lives, the consequences are immeasurable - it has an effect not just on them, but on their children, their families and their communities. The citizens of Mexico have decided to open a sincere, fearless and fruitful discussion about abortion in order to overcome such negative consequences.