An attempt to allow abortion on demand for any reason up to the 12 weeks has been rejected in the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
In a virtual session held yesterday, the United Commission of Justice and Public Health voted by 6 votes to 3 to dismiss the proposed legislation put forward by the Morena and the Revolution Democratic Party (PRD).
Of the 10 members of the Commission, two PRD representatives and one Green Party legislator voted in favour of the proposals. All six votes to dismiss any change in law came from the National Action Party (PAN). The tenth representative, Javier Hernández was not present.
Explaining why she voted against the proposals, PAN representative Laura Cristina Márquez Alcalá said, “It is a matter of defending the human rights of women and the human rights of an unborn person.”
Pictures of vandalism by pro-abortion activists have emerged since the proposals were dismissed.
Pro-life campaigners have further cause to celebrate in Mexico, as this news comes after the Mexican state legislature of Nuevo Leon passed an education reform bill to foster a “respect for life from conception to natural death” in students just last week.
The law reflects the state’s constitution, which affirms that “the state recognizes, protects and defends the right to life that every human being has. From the moment of conception that life comes under the protection of the Law and is considered as having been born with regards to all corresponding legal effects until its natural death.”
The new bill also includes provisions to help prevent disability-selective abortions as it calls for the “inclusion, through the development of special training, programs for the employment of people with some kind of disability.”
The director of the pro-life group ConParticipación, Marcial Padilla, said: “The initiative to recognize the right to life in education will help young people, adolescents and children learn to appreciate human life.”
The pro-life leader said he is hopeful the reform bill will “help reduce suicide rates, reduce addictions and will also help young people understand that abortion is not an option. ”
Above all, students “will be able to know that abortion is always an attack on human life,” he added.
