International Safe Abortion Day 2023: What You Need to Know

On September 29, 2023, thousands of women across Latin American cities marched in vibrant displays of green to mark International Safe Abortion Day. While progress has been made in recent years, strict abortion laws persist in some countries like El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. Mexico celebrated a significant victory as its Supreme Court recently decriminalized abortion at the federal level, expanding access to reproductive rights. Argentina, however, had a more somber tone, as concerns loom over the potential rollback of women’s rights with the rise of a right-wing presidential candidate, Javier Milei, who opposes abortion and other progressive policies.

The demonstrations weren’t solely about abortion; they also aimed to draw attention to the high rates of gender-based violence and LGBTQ+ community abuses in the region. The “green wave” abortion movement symbolized by green handkerchiefs was prominent, with slogans such as “It’s my decision” and “Free and safe abortions for everyone.”

While Mexico’s Supreme Court decision is a significant achievement, the fight continues to change public perceptions about abortion. Despite lingering abortion bans in 20 Mexican states, the ruling sets a precedent for expanding access in a traditionally conservative country. Argentina and Colombia have also made strides in recent years, and Brazil could be next as its Supreme Court considers decriminalization up to 12 weeks of gestation.

Despite the unease in some regions, the women of Latin America remain resolute in their fight for reproductive rights, vowing to protect the gains they have made through persistent activism in the streets.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The AP News