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 Health & Beauty | April 2007 
Mexico City to Hold Landmark Abortion Vote
 Catherine Bremer - Reuters
| | Citizens hold a banner which reads 'not to the legalizing abortion' during an anti-abortion march in Mexico City April 22, 2007. Mexico City lawmakers will vote on Tuesday on whether to legalize abortion in the capital of the world's second-largest Roman Catholic country in direct defiance of the pope. (Daniel Aguilar/Reuters) |
Mexico City lawmakers will vote on Tuesday on whether to legalize abortion in the capital of the world's second-largest Roman Catholic country in direct defiance of the pope.
In Latin America, only Cuba, Guyana and U.S. commonwealth Puerto Rico allow abortion on demand. Some nations like Mexico and Brazil permit it in special cases, including after rape, if the fetus has defects or if the mother's life is at risk.
The abortion law, likely to be passed by the city's leftist-dominated assembly, would apply only to the capital and limit the termination of pregnancies to the first trimester.
Mexico City lawmakers have recently stirred up controversy by allowing gay civil unions and considering a euthanasia law.
The abortion issue has split Mexico, even inspiring a letter last week from Pope Benedict urging Mexican bishops to oppose it.
"We hope it will be a decision in favor of life and the common good. That's what we're praying for," said Catholic priest Pedro Rivera.
Further alarming the anti-abortion camp, Mexican lawmakers have filed a proposal in Congress for a national abortion law.
Opinion polls show Mexico's population of 107 million, of whom some 90 percent are Catholic, is split over the issue.
Abortion opponents have collected the 36,000 signatures they need to ask the city assembly for a referendum on abortion but any vote would not be binding on lawmakers.
Supporters of abortion, who are well-represented in the liberal-minded capital, say 2,000 women die each year in Mexico, often poor women who have to resort to unhygienic back-street clinics.
"I'm in favor of a woman having the freedom to take a decision and be able to count on the necessary medical attention. But it must be the woman's decision," said Gabriela Rodriguez, 28, a systems engineer on her lunch break.
'LONG BATTLE'
Abortion opponents, who have plastered the capital with posters, have promised big protests on Tuesday and legal action in the case of a "yes" vote.
"If they approve this legislation it will be the start of a long battle in favor of life," said Guillermo Bustamante, president of a national parents' association.
The Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, which controls City Hall, has already angered religious groups by trying to swiftly pass liberal reforms. The assembly approved gay civil unions in November and is considering legalizing euthanasia.
Opponents may challenge the abortion law in the courts.
"It's very likely that this will get bogged down in the Supreme Court," said political commentator Hector Zagal.
"For me, this is more about the issue of male responsibility in a macho society where there is a large number of single mothers. What they should be debating is how to educate males."
(Additional reporting by Jason Lange and Gunther Hamm) |
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