(ZENIT News / Mexico City, 11.24.2024).- On November 20, 2024, the state legislature of Zacatecas voted to decriminalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, marking a significant milestone in Mexico’s evolving approach to abortion. The decision positions Zacatecas as the 15th state in the country to legalize abortion within this timeframe, reflecting a broader shift in national policy that continues to spark widespread debate.
A Legal and Ethical Crossroads
The newly passed reform defines abortion as “the interruption of pregnancy after the first 12 weeks” and introduces penalties for forced abortion, making it a criminal offense to terminate a pregnancy without the consent of the pregnant individual at any stage of gestation. While the legislative change focuses on expanding access to safe and legal abortion, it also underscores the complexities surrounding consent and autonomy in reproductive health.
With this decision, Zacatecas aligns with states such as Sinaloa, which allows abortion up to 13 weeks, and Coahuila, where abortion penalties have been nullified, though procedural guidelines remain undefined.
MORENA’s Influence in Shaping the Landscape
The political backdrop of this reform is closely tied to the governing party, MORENA. Since Andrés Manuel López Obrador assumed the presidency in 2018, and more recently under Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration beginning October 1, 2024, several states—Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, and now Zacatecas—have moved to legalize abortion within the first trimester.
Next Steps and Challenges Ahead
While the Zacatecas Congress has decriminalized abortion, the practical implementation remains a pressing concern. Lawmakers will now focus on amending the state’s Health Law to define how and where abortion services will be provided. Accessibility, funding, and education about these new rights will likely shape the success of the reform in practice.
Tensions in Other States: The Pushback
As progressive policies gain traction in some regions, others are entrenched in heated debates. In Guanajuato, Archbishop Jaime Calderón Calderón has voiced alarm over proposed measures that could permit abortion up to nine months of pregnancy. In his statement, Calderón described such initiatives as an attack on the dignity of human life, calling them “inadmissible discrimination against the unborn.”
Similarly, Chiapas has seen recent constitutional amendments that, while preserving the language of protecting life, introduce exceptions that critics argue undermine the original intent. Bishop Rodrigo Aguilar Martínez of San Cristóbal de las Casas has warned of the ethical and societal consequences of these changes, urging legislators to reconsider the broader implications for the moral fabric of the community.
A Divided Nation
Zacatecas’ move highlights the deep divides in Mexican society over abortion rights. For proponents, the reform represents a victory for autonomy, safety, and public health. For opponents, it raises questions about the moral and legal boundaries of life and human rights.
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