On Tuesday, Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation held unconstitutional several provisions of the Penal Code of the state of Coahuila that criminalizes abortion. According to a Court press release (full text in Spanish), the Court unanimously declared Article 196 of the Penal Code of Coahuila unconstitutional. The section criminalizes voluntarily having an abortion or or causing a woman, with her consent, to have an abortion. The court said the section violates the right of a woman to choose.
The court also invalidated Article 198 that prohibits health care workers from assisting in an abortion, and Article 199 that limits abortion in the case of rape, artificial insemination or implantation to 12 weeks. Finally the Court invalidated as discriminatory Article 224 that sets a lower penalty for rape between spouses, common-law partners and civil partners than for rape by others.
The decision was unanimous on the part of all 10 Justices. Because the decision was by more than 8 votes, its reasoning is binding on all federal and local judges.
Reuters reports on the decision, pointing out that the state of Coahuila borders Texas which just effectively banned most abortions. This could make the state a destination for Texas women seeking abortions.
