Abortion brake in Guanajuato, Mexico; Church and activists call not to give in.

After the State Congress of Guanajuato (Mexico) stopped the progress of a legislative proposal that sought to decriminalize abortion, the Catholic Church and civil society sectors made a call to “not lower their guard” and continue to mobilize in the face of the next session.

On May 29, the vote registered a draw: 18 votes in favor and 18 against. Therefore, the opinion – which includes reforms to the local Political Constitution and the Criminal Code – will be discussed again in the next session, scheduled for Thursday, June 5.

If not approved, it would happen to the next legislative period, which could stop the decriminalization of abortion in the State indefinitely.

The proposal is part of a gradual process that has been extending throughout the country. Mexico lacks unified federal legislation on abortion, so that each of the 32 state congresses reforms its criminal framework independently. So far, 23 entities (states) have advanced in this path.

Since the arrival of Claudia Sheinbaum to the presidency of Mexico, on October 1, 2024, the legislative process in the states has gained impulse. In the 241 days of its administration, and with the support of local majorities, reforms have been approved to allow legal abortion in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, State of Mexico, Chiapas, Nayarit, Chihuahua, Campeche, Yucatán and Tabasco.

However, Guanajuato remains one of the few states where this reform has not been approved. During the legislative session of May 28, thousands of members of the Provida movement demonstrated on the outskirts of the State Congress to show their support for the deputies who voted in favor of life and against abortion.

“Do not lower your guard”

Before the next vote, Mons. Enrique Díaz, Bishop of Irapuato – one of the dioceses that make up the State— asked the faithful and citizens “Do not lower your guard” and not assume that the battle is already won; Therefore, he invited to participate actively in citizen initiatives and the actions convened by the dimension of life.

He also addressed the deputies so that, in the next session, they return to vote against the abortion project and “not be afraid to defend the human person, to ensure the safety and well -being of women, but in particular to guard the right to life from conception to natural death.”

“Do not close their ears to the clamor of thousands of Guanajuato who raise their voice in favor of the most defenseless,” said Mons. Díaz and added that “we want to build a society away from the culture of death, where there are accompaniment, support and mercy paths.”

He also invited prayer, especially to the Blessed Mother of Light, a very revered invocation in Guanajuato whose party is celebrated on June 4, and who entrusts as a “defense of life” and “maternity custody.”

“Victoria flavor draw”

For Uriel Esqueda, Provida activist and member of the Activate Organization, the result was not a defeat. In an interview with ACI Press, he described it as “an opportunity at the moment to be able to add more people to the defense of life and to press those deputies that we know are undecided and who are voting for political pressures in favor of abortion.”

He pointed out that in the next few days they will continue the work they have been doing from civil society, especially strengthening the proximity to legislators. Esqueda also commented that “a deputy who was undecided voted in favor of life. Then it was a victory flavor and gave us time to convince other deputies.”

Lessons that leave the defense of life in Guanajuato

While Esqueda acknowledged that achieving a provident victory can be difficult, he stressed that the cause should only give the battle until the end, to face the battle everywhere and not keep our arms crossed in front of this situation. “

“We have stood up and then we have won a week to show again that Guanajuato wants the right to life to be respected,” he said.

He explained that the momentary brake on the initiative has been the result of several factors: “It has been months of work and to go objective after objective, little by little, to ensure that yesterday this presence in the State Congress was achieved.”

Esqueda highlighted as a key “the coordination in different work axes, from organized civil society, different groups that have joined the strategy, churches of different denominations, the lobbying work that is being done with them, the pressure in the media, in social networks, the young people.”

From each of his trenches, he said, they have shown that “Guanajuato remains a pro -life state and that the culture of life continues to grow and is not that it has already become fashionable.”

“It is not a thing of the past (the defense of life), but is today and Guanajuato, as always, is a bastion in the defense of life and is demonstrating it once again thanks to all those committed people,” said the leader.