Mexican Court Rules on Abortion
The Supreme Court in Mexico upheld the anti-abortion constitutional amendment added into the Baja California state constitution which asserts that life begins at conception.
While 7 out of 11 members of the Supreme Court ruled this legislation as unconstitutional, they needed 8 to overturn it. The justices believe that this is an issue to be determined by state, not federal legislation. Mexico City remains one of the areas in Mexico that allows abortions up to 12 weeks. In all states, abortion is permitted in cases of rape or cases that pose severe health risks, although pro-choice activists do not believe that this is always upheld.
Should government be able to make a decision in regards to when life begins?
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Comments (3)
In an ideal world, the government is run by representatives of the people in the best interests of the people. If the majority of citizens in Baja California believe that life begins at birth and have no problem with this legislation, then so be it.
Of course, we do not live in an ideal world. And asserting by law that life begins at birth in one state will result in women sneaking over borders to get abortions in another state, or worse, in illegal abortions (clothes hanger, anyone?). I do not believe in abortion, but I support the right to it because it is overall healthier for women to have legal methods to abort. Women have been aborting babies since the dawn of time (for example, a natural abortifacient is pomegranate) and they will find a way to do so if they want it done. Have we learned nothing from the Prohibition era? Just legalize it so that the black market doesn't make a (perhaps literal) killing off it.
Posted by Robin | September 29, 2011 7:17 PM
This news saddens me because it will inevitably lead to women seeking out dangerous, "back-alley" abortions that put their lives at risk. Officially, Mexico allows for abortions in rape cases or where the mother's life is in peril -- but what about cases where the woman simply cannot afford to properly care for another child? With child poverty rates soaring across the world, legislation like this turns a fatally blind eye to reality.
Posted by Aralena Malone-Leroy | September 30, 2011 2:10 AM
This type of legislation worries me on several levels. The first and most important is the risk that it poses to women seeking abortions. If they are not allowed access to legal, safe abortions, they may try to sneak across borders to where it is legal and face potential legal trouble. If they are unable to do that, they may try to find someone who will do it illegally, without maintaining any health or safety standards, and women can die from this.
As for government determining when life begins, I feel that they do not have the right unless they are truly representing the views of all the people in their nation. The beginning of life is a very personal idea that is different for everyone. Some may believe that life begins at conception. Others may believe that it doesn't begin until the fetus is able to survive outside of the mother's womb. Other people may believe that life doesn't begin until after the baby is born. The point is that no matter what you believe, it is your beliefs that count and should be respected, not those of the government.
Posted by kamador | September 30, 2011 9:00 AM