The 'Green Tide' continues advancing in Mexico and now reaches Campeche, which joins the decriminalization of abortion. The LXV Legislature of the Congress of the State of Campeche approved in a reserved session the decriminalization of abortion, thereby guaranteeing the right of each woman to decide about her body. With this decision, Campeche becomes the 22nd entity in Mexico to ensure that no woman is criminalized for voluntarily interrupting her pregnancy.
During the session held on Monday, February 24 at 11 p.m., articles 157 and 158 of the Penal Code of the State of Campeche were modified, establishing harsher penalties for those who force a woman to abort against her will. According to the provisions established by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), legislation was enacted in favor of the Physical and Mental Health of women who decide to interrupt their pregnancy before 12 weeks of gestation.
Previously, the Supreme Court had annulled several articles of the Penal Code of the northern state of Coahuila, where abortion was considered a crime and both women and health personnel were criminalized. Among the entities that have amended their laws regarding legal interruption of pregnancy are Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, CDMX, Chiapas, Chihuahua, and several others.
The approval of abortion in Campeche surprised the Catholic Church, which announced a press conference to state its position. The initiative was presented to the Congress of the State by the Human Rights Commission of Campeche and supported by organized civil society groups. It is highlighted that this action complies with a mandate from the Supreme Court that decriminalized voluntary abortion nationwide in September 2023.
In total, 22 Mexican states have approved the decriminalization of abortion, according to information from the Group for Information in Chosen Reproduction (GIRE).
