Mexico Plans to Legalize Abortion

In the country of Mexico, abortions are illegal except in cases of rape or when the mother's life is at risk. A new law is being pushed to legalize abortions so that those who wish to end unwanted pregnancies have a safe option to do so.

Senators in favor of passing a law to legalize abortion sent a bill to leaders of the Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday.

The Democratic Revolution party, an extreme leftist organization, is pushing to allow abortions in a nation where the Roman Catholics have such a high influence and who of course have been against terminating pregnancy in almost all instances.

The hope is to at least legalize abortion in Mexico City, a highly populated area (8.7 million residents) which would be a step towards a nationwide law.

Proponents of the new bill claim that many women get pregnant each year and those who do not wish to continue the pregnancy will find a way to abort their fetus, regardless of what the law says.

Mexico is a country known for having rich or poor people. There isn't much middle ground and in the case of unwanted pregnancies, those who have money will travel to the United States and have the procedure done in a clinic.

Those who are poor and don't have access to this type of health care option, end up having illegal and most often unsafe abortions performed. As a result there are injuries, infections, incomplete abortions and thousands of deaths for those who choose the back ally route.

Those supporting the new bill are fairly sure that it will pass on a city wide level, making it the first district to allow abortion. The challenge will then come with getting the entire country to legalize it, as the very conservative president Felipe Calderon is outspoken about his beliefs against abortion.

But it's a step in the right direction in the opinion of those who agree with the new law. Anti-abortion activists plan to fight the new law and will be marching in the capital city to protest on Thursday.

Religious leaders vow to strongly oppose any attempts at legalization and will likely cause a huge uproar if the law passes.

If the new bill is approved, all women will be allowed to have an abortion during the first three months of pregnancy.

This could occur as early as the end of the year and will be a huge stepping stone for a country that has banned abortion in the past.

Sources:

Reuters. "Mexico's Capital Plans to Legalize Abortion" Reuters.com

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