Mexico seemed to be on a progressive track this year: the centrist PRI wrestled legislative power from the center-right PAN in mid-term elections; personal drug use of everything from pot to heroine was decriminalized; and major investments in wind farms were made in Baja. Such overtures stop short of abortion rights, however.
Last week the state of Veracruz passed a ban emphasizing that life begins at the moment of conception. That makes 17 of 32 states that have instituted a ban on abortion. Many state bans penalize abortion as homicide. In Veracruz, a stipulation was added that will permit women who have an abortion to avoid jail time by submitting to psychological treatment. Exceptions run the gamut, ranging from reasonable (pregnancy from rape) to ludicrous (an absolute ban).
This spat of abortion bans are a backlash to Mexico City’s decision to decriminalize abortion, during the first 12 weeks of gestation, in 2007. The furor was immense. President Calderon’s PAN took their protest to the Supreme Court, which eventually upheld the decision on an 8-3 vote. Many speculated this would open the floodgates to a slew of legalization amendments throughout Mexico. Turns out, the opposite has been the case. Aguascalientes and Michoacán may soon follow Veracruz, effectively banning abortion among two-thirds of Mexican states over the last two years.
Of more significance, the Veracruz legislature sent a proposal to Congress for federal action. Any state legislature can send amendments to Congress for consideration as national law. Any amendment is then sent back to the states, and if the majority of states vote in the affirmative federal law is made. A congressional ban would penalize abortion as murder throughout Mexico, as state support of a federal amendment is certain.
Historically, discussion of abortion and other hot button social issues was moot because of the prominent role of the Catholic Church in Mexican society. If religion remains the reason for the recent ban, that’s understandable. But given the Mexican legislature’s responses to other social problems this appears to be selective piety, to put it mildly.
