Latin America shows support for Argentina's law liberalizing abortion

Many women in Mexico wore green, a color associated with the pro-choice movement, to show support for the Argentine liberalization law. Abortion was legalized within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in Mexico City in 2007. Pro-choice activists nevertheless continue to push for improved services and an extension of the 12 week window in the capital.

Many Mexican supporters of Argentina's liberalization law have been advocating decriminalization in states outside of Mexico City, one of the few Mexican states to have liberalized abortion rules. Many other states only permit abortions to save the woman's life, in cases of rape, or incest. A 2001 study found an abortion occurrence rate of about 16 per cent between women aged 15 to 55.

Women in Ecuador also showed solidarity with Argentine pro-abortion activists. Abortion in Ecuador is only legal when there is a risk posed to the pregnant woman's life, or in pregnancies resulting from the rape of a woman with a mental disability. Women or girls who fall pregnant under other circumstances cannot access abortions and can serve time in prison if they do.

Demonstrations also broke out in South America's largest country. Abortion is illegal in Brazil, except for cases of rape, when there is a health risk posed to the pregnant woman, and when the fetus has a fatal congenital brain disorder. Women and girls who access abortion under other circumstances can be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

Like Argentina, activists in Brazil are pushing to loosen abortion restrictions. An ongoing supreme court case in Brazil is pushing to decriminalize abortion up until the 12th week of pregnancy. Protests also took place outside of the Brazilian supreme court last Friday, where demonstrators dressed in red robes similar to those worn by the cast of dystopian TV series "The Handmaid's Tale."

Some demonstrators in Uruguay wore green glitter in support of the Argentine law. Abortion was legalized in Uruguay during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in 2012. In cases of rape, it is legal until the 14th week of pregnancy. In a controversial court case in 2017, a judge ruled that a 24-year-old woman could not have an abortion without her ex-partner's consent.