Mexico City women march for abortion access
Thousands of women have marched in Mexico City, demanding nationwide access to abortion as part of a global day of action advocating for safe and legal reproductive healthcare. Many participants wore green, a symbol of the "Green Wave" movement for abortion rights across Latin America.The marches celebrated a 2023 Supreme Court victory, declaring federal criminal penalties for abortion unconstitutional. This ruling mandated federal health institutions offer abortion services to anyone who requests them. Before this, abortion was decriminalized at state level in a growing number of Mexico's 32 states, starting with Mexico City in 2007. Despite the federal ruling, abortion access remains fragmented across Mexico, with seven states still criminalizing the procedure. Activists push for legislative action to fully remove abortion from the penal code, ensuring uniform access.The International Safe Abortion Day, observed annually on September 28, traces its origins to Latin America in 1990, becoming a global initiative in 2011. It serves as a crucial platform for advocates worldwide to call for timely, affordable, and quality abortion care, and to highlight the public health crisis and human rights violations caused by restrictive abortion laws. Unsafe abortions account for a significant percentage of global abortions, underscoring the need for legal and safe options. The "Green Wave" movement has become a powerful symbol of solidarity for abortion rights internationally. Across Latin America, activists have achieved transformational victories, yet the fight continues in many nations where abortion remains restricted or banned.
