Victoria Provida in Mexico: Guanajuato rejects decriminalization of abortion

At a time when most of the states of Mexico advance towards the legalization of abortion, the state of Guanajuato marked an exception. The local Congress rejected the project that sought to decriminalize abortion, and both the Catholic Church and civil society sectors celebrated what they consider a provident victory for the whole country.

Guanajuato, considered one of the most conservative states in the country, thus breaks the national trend: 23 of the 32 states have approved reforms to allow this practice, 11 of them since the arrival of Claudia Sheinbaum to the Presidency in October 2024.

On May 29, a first vote recorded a draw: 18 votes in favor and 18 against. Therefore, the opinion – which included reforms to the local Political Constitution and the Criminal Code – was discussed again this Thursday, June 5.

That day, the Guanajuato State Congress voted against the proposal that the abortion raised until 12 weeks gestation. The result was 19 votes against and 17 in favor, which stopped the initiative.

The decision was possible thanks to the position of deputy Luz Itzel Mendo González, of the Green Ecological Party of Mexico, who had voted in favor of decriminalization a week before.

In his speech against Congress, he assured that, despite his initial position, he spoke “with women, with jurists, with my bench and with my conscience. Today, clearly, I have changed my mind.”

“That nobody is indifferent or inactive”

After the decision of the congressmen, Mons. Jaime Calderón, Archbishop of León, located in the state of Guanajuato, shared a statement in which he held the resolution; However, he indicated that there is still a “great task” ahead.

“Given what was lived today in the Plenary Session of Congress I see that we have a long way in the defense of the dignity of the person, a path where the rights and equality are recognized and protected to any person, especially the woman; and that their integrity and security are insured at all times,” he said in the statement.

In this sense, the archbishop encouraged all Catholics to “that no one is indifferent or inactive at any threat, against the life of a helpless, against the dignity and security of women and their motherhood.”

Being are not just being against abortion

Rubén Loyola, communication manager of the youth group Testimony and Esperanza, told ACI Press that it is clear that “being provides not simply is being against abortion, but really dignifying the life of every person and, above all, of all Mexican.”

He added that there is a public commitment to continue working, as has been done for many years, “to promote policies that truly dignify women, to dignify life.”

In relation to what happened in Guanajuato, he pointed out the importance of especially young people, forces and voices, all together, to ask the authorities and promote “this civilization of love we are looking for.”

A message of hope for women

Luisa Argueta, National Coordinator of Steps for Life, assured ACI Prensa that this decision “represents a message of hope for many women.”

“For years we have been believed that if we face an unexpected pregnancy or in difficult circumstances, all we can do is abort. But what happened yesterday in Guanajuato shows that there is another way to accompany a woman, one that does not imply putting out a life of someone,” said the leader.

For Argueta, he now demands a commitment to “prepare well, not only with arguments, but with proposals”, since he indicated that “it is not enough to say ‘not to abortion’, we also have to say ‘yes to women, yes to accompaniment, yes to life in all its stages’. This is a battle that is not gained only with laws, but with the heart, truth and constant action”.

He also stressed that one of the most important lessons is to learn that “every gesture, every conversation, every person adds, does a real difference” and that “citizen presence matters.”