Mexico City — The Supreme Court of Justice in Mexico (SCJN) has ruled in favor of decriminalizing abortion at the federal level. This landmark decision follows an appeal by the feminist organization Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida (GIRE).
The First Chamber of the Supreme Court declared the legal framework that penalizes abortion in the Federal Penal Code as unconstitutional. The Court’s ruling emphasized that such a system violates the human rights of women and those with the capacity to gestate.
As a direct consequence of this ruling, women in Mexico can now access abortion services in medical institutions like the IMSS, ISSSTE, and any other health institution without the fear of legal repercussions.
The decision by the Supreme Court stemmed from a legal challenge known as an “Amparo” filed by GIRE against the Union Congress and the Federal Executive. The organization contested a regulation that had previously criminalized abortion.
Upon reviewing the Amparo, the SCJN determined that the section of the Federal Penal Code that criminalizes abortion is void. This implies that neither pregnant individuals nor healthcare professionals can face legal consequences for conducting an abortion.
A statement from GIRE highlighted the importance of this decision, celebrating it as a monumental step forward for the reproductive rights of women and people in Mexico.
This ruling positions Mexico at the forefront of progressive reproductive rights legislation in the region, ensuring safer medical environments for women and medical practitioners.
