Mexican states continue to preempt efforts to legalize abortion

Mexico City, Mexico, Apr 21, 2009 / 16:51 pm

The Nayarit State Congress in Mexico has passed a reform of the state’s constitution that guarantees the right to life of all human beings from conception to natural death.

The amendment, approved by a vote of 27-3, was supported across party lines. Representative Roberto Contreras Cantabrana of the Party of the Democratic Revolution said, “I support life. I will never support disturbing the development of a new life. The Mexican government and the Health Department work every day to protect healthy pregnancies so they end with a safe delivery.”

Representative Juan Antonio Echegaray of the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico said, “There is no room her to discuss abortion, since this is a reform that recognizes and guarantees the right to life....”

“In order for there to be an abortion, conception must have taken place,” he added, underscoring that the reform of the constitution makes it clear that human life exists from the moment of conception.

National Action Party Representative Jose Manuel Bautista said the reform was in keeping with the federal Constitution and with the international agreements and treaties signed and ratified by Mexico.