Members of feminist collectives in Oaxaca marched yesterday afternoon through the streets of the city to demand the decriminalization of abortion and respect for their sexual and reproductive rights.
As part of the International Day for the Decriminalization of Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean, women from the capital joined the so-called “green tide” that has spanned several cities in the country and the world.
During the meeting held in the Zocalo of the capital, they urged the administration of Governor Alejandro Murat Hinojosa, to encourage the prevention of teenage pregnancy.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State was requested to assist women who are victims of a sexual assault and to guide them on the emergence of pregnancy, as well as guaranteeing access to prompt and expeditious justice.
They emphasized that only through decriminalization can progress be made towards women’s rights, given that there can be no condemnation when women make difficult decisions such as interruption of pregnancy.
According to data provided by the participants, in Oaxaca there are 33 abortions a day, whose figure per year amounts to 11,500.
They regretted that state legislation only allows the termination of pregnancy under certain circumstances such as rape, danger to the mother, or malformations of the fetus.
They celebrated that Mexico City is the only federal entity in the country in which it is legal to receive an abortion until 12 weeks of gestation, in addition to “it is poor women who have less access to a safe abortion, which add to the lack of opportunities and school drop-outs”.
“Legal abortion is a need for public health, and women’s health, for that reason we promote a day for the decriminalization of abortion in Oaxaca,” they said.
They urged local legislators to decriminalize safe abortions in Oaxaca and not criminalize women, “we do not want more deaths from clandestine abortions, women already interrupt pregnancy without state authorization.”