By Emily Rand, NWPC Political Planning and Action Intern
“We celebrate this ruling as a historic victory for the women’s movement in Colombia that has fought for decades for the recognition of their rights,” said Erika Guevara- Rosas, the American director at Amnesty International, in a statement regarding the recent decriminalization of abortion in Colombia. Just earlier this week Colombia legalized abortion after 24 weeks compared to their prior litigation of abortion under special, exceptional circumstances. This movement made history as Colombia joins Mexico and Argentina in the small list of Latin American countries to decriminalize abortion. Latin America has some of the world’s most restrictive abortion laws, arguably motivated by the region’s traditionally conservative and powerful Catholic and Christian views. Many countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Cuba and Guatemala only allow elective abortions, meaning if the abortion is necessary or beneficial for the person’s health or if the person’s pregnancy was a result of rape. Other countries like El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, strictly ban all abortion. Latin American reproductive rights activists promote the abortion barriers to be lowered to give women constitutional freedom over their bodies. In January of 2021, Argentina triumphantly waved their symbolic green handkerchiefs as their country fully legalized abortion after 14 weeks. Mexico also decriminalized abortion in 2021 and while many of their states still hold restrictions, the attitudes towards change are shifting in a positive direction.
The importance of this step towards gender equality cannot be understated, and is understood by the “Green Wave,” the name for the Colombian, and other Latin American, activists who tirelessly fight for their reproductive rights. In our own region, the legalization of abortion through Roe vs. Wade is being threatened. Although abortion is constitutionally legalized in our nation, some states like Texas and Mississippi implement their own harmful restrictions. The standard deadline of 23-24 weeks has been countered by state legislation, shortening the deadline as low as 6 weeks. Mississippi shortened it to 14 weeks and Texas recently increased their limitations on abortion access by prohibiting abortions after 6 weeks, regardless of rape or consideration for person’s health. The number is shockingly low, considering most women only become aware of pregnancy around the 6 th week mark. In January of 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court denied abortion providers’ appeal to legally challenge the Texas laws, reinforcing the negative impacts to women’s lives in Texas.
While many Latin American countries have progressed towards equality, some American states like Texas seem to have regressed. The fight for body autonomy in Latin American is ongoing and hardly over, but the historic decriminalization in Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico is a victory and inspiration for women everywhere. And as Americans, we can learn from the powerful activism in Latin America as our own reproductive rights and choice as women are once again threatened through dangerous abortion restrictions.
Emily Rand is a junior at College of the Holy Cross studying Anthropology and Women, Sexuality, and Gender Studies. She is interested in women’s issues in public policy, and especially passionate about domestic violence law. She is planning on attending law school after completing her undergraduate degree and aims for a future career that works towards a society that actively prevents violence against women. Outside of school, Emily deeply enjoys reading and caring for her animals.
