Various sections of our website are available in both Spanish and English, so that our work and accomplishments are more easily accessible to our supporters from the English-speaking world and beyond. Please find our menu of English-language links at the right, below the links to our Spanish website contents. We appreciate your interest in GIRE and hope you enjoy your visit to our site.   What's New: A legal battle that divides – New Article! (January 27, 2010) In the article Mexico’s Brewing Battle over Abortion, Lauren Villagran depicts how the legal struggle over anti-choice constitutional amendments is drawing a line between the capital of Mexico, where abortion has been legal since 2007, and over half of the Mexican states, where abortion has been made not only illegal but criminal, punishable with mandatory psychological treatment or incarceration. Check the full article for a comprehensive update on the fight for abortion rights in Mexico.     News Archive 2007-2009 Watch a great video from the Feminist Majority Foundation, featuring GIRE’s Director News Archive 2007-2009 An Atlantic Monthly article you shouldn’t miss!(October 29, 2009) If you want to get a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of Mexico’s abortion debate, then you must read this wonderful piece published by the Atlantic Monthly. The article, “Mexico’s Abortion Wars”, is supported by on-the-ground research that the author, Mary Cuddehe, carried out recently in Mexico, in which she made sure to include all relevant stakeholders and sources to provide a balanced in-depth overview on the recently intensified struggle over first trimester abortion. Cuddehe’s research included a visit to GIRE’s library and documentation center and interviews to GIRE staff. We were, of course, thrilled to participate in research for the article and now we are thrilled to share with you the marvelous results Another award for GIRE’s Executive Director!(October 15, 2009) Last week GIRE’s Director María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes traveled to Washington to attend the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health’s Quinceañera (15th birthday party, a traditional coming of age celebration for girls in Latin America). At the event, three awards were granted to recognize the astounding accomplishments of individuals or organizations based on NLIRH´s three core ideals: salud/health, dignidad/dignity and justicia/justice. María Luisa received the award Dignidad for her leading role in the 2007 process of decriminalizing abortion in Mexico City. The Case for Mexican Women’s Abortion Rights Goes International: Morelos, Colima and Sonora file petitions before the IAHCR(October 8, 2009) GIRE is spearheading a legal strategy to contain (in the measure possible) and challenge Mexico’s state-level constitutional amendments that protect life from the moment of conception. Download the document (PDF) to read the full text. A backlash that has gone viral (July 29, 2009) So far fourteen Mexican states have approved constitutional reforms that protect life from the moment of fertilization, jeopardizing women’s reproductive rights –some of which are protected by state penal codes and federal regulations- not to mention the use of contraceptive methods like the IUD, stem cell research or even euthanasia. Check out this update from Women´s eNews quoting GIRE´s Executive Director María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes on the potential implications of the reforms and the strategic actions to challenge them. A Gold Gavel for the Supreme Court of Mexico! (May 11, 2009) The Mexican Supreme Court won the Gold Gavel in the Women’s Link Worldwide Gender Justice Uncovered Awards for its ruling on the constitutionality of Mexico City’s pro-choice law. Granted globally, these awards draw attention to the decisions that most promote or affect gender equality. Check out all the winners here. [PDF] Wave of anti-choice reforms jeopardizes Mexican women’s health and rights (May 26,2009) In the past six months, Mexico has witnessed a wave of conservative bills that aim to protect life from the moment of conception in state constitutions. In many cases, these bills totally ban abortion even under circumstances (such as rape, fetal malformation, or risk to a woman’s life) when it is currently allowed. Reforms have been approved in 12 states to date and six states have pending initiatives. This worrying and dangerous trend is a clear reaction to the decriminalization of abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy in Mexico City, and we are doing all we can to counteract the reforms at the local, national and even regional level. If you want to get a full picture, check out the article Mexico Antiabortion Laws on the Rise from The Huffington Post that quotes GIRE’s Executive Director María Luisa Sánchez and provides a comprehensive briefing on the matter. A profile on Mexico’s most vocal, passionate and respected advocate for reproductive choice: GIRE’s founder and Board President Marta Lamas (April 2009) In April 2009, the global feminist blog Gender across Borders features a profile on the renowned Mexican feminist and anthropologist Marta Lamas. (Click here to read the full profile). We invite you to have a look at this biographical summary and be inspired by this charismatic and brilliant woman who has made a lifetime commitment to advancing women’s freedom of choice. CAIRO + 15: The Mexican government will have to explain serious setbacks in reproductive and sexual health and rights:Press Release (March 31, 2009) Within a framework of clear public policy setbacks related to reproductive and sexual rights that violate women’s basic rights, the Mexican government will present its report before the Expert Group in the 42nd Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development that will evaluate the commitments acquired in the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), held in Cairo... Read the Press Release here A Heated debate: The Mexican Norm on Violence (March 4, 2009) The Official Mexican Norm on Family and Sexual Violence (NOM 046) has recently taken center stage on the Mexican political arena. The battle over its content has spiraled to a crescendo as it has come to symbolize the ideological differences and struggle between women’s rights advocates and the ultra-conservative forces in the highest echelons of power. Review of the Norm was stipulated in the friendly settlement on the Paulina Case signed by GIRE, partner organization Center for Reproductive Rights and the Mexican government before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in 2006. It includes among other things the right of rape survivors to be offered emergency contraception (EC) or a legal abortion at public health facilities throughout the country, in order to prevent cases such as Paulina´s from happening again. In July 2008 a final version of the Norm was approved that gathered together comments of dozens of organizations; it only needed to be made public through official mechanisms to become effective. Despite this fact, the Ministry of Health called an extraordinary meeting of the Norm Advisory Committee in January 2009 to make a series of changes to this approved version. In a nutshell, these changes reduced State obligations, making the provision of EC and abortion services no longer an obligation but an option, thus severely violating Mexican women´s sexual and reproductive rights. (Check out an article quoting GIRE’s Executive Director on the recent changes made to the Norm here). A strong public opinion mobilization strategy was set in motion by GIRE and its allies. This included a one-page newspaper insert (English version) in the national newspaper Reforma strongly condemning the manner in which the new version of the Norm had been approved and the nature of the changes made, and singling out the responsibility of President Calderón in the matter. Public pressure led to a new session of the Committee and a new version of the Norm that, although it is not as good and comprehensive as the one approved in July of last year, does oblige health attendants to inform sexual violence survivors of their rights. Now that the Norm has been approved (although we are still waiting for its publications), we need to make sure that health facilities across the nation abide by the rules. We cannot and will not lower our guard at this critical moment and with the help of our supporters we remain ever-vigilant and active!! GIRE's Director Honored by Women's eNews: Seven Who Re-Draw the Boundaries (December 31,2008) GIRE's fabulous Executive Director, María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes, has again been honored for her great work-- this time by Women's eNews as an "outstanding leader dedicated to improving women's lives." We are very proud of María Luisa, and excited that GIRE's exciting work is getting more international recognition. Women's eNews is a web-based source for news pertaining to women and women's rights. The article on Maria Luisa is available after the jump, or here. What the Election of Barak Obama could mean for Reproductive Justice: The Global Gag Rule and Funding for Abortion Rights (November 11, 2008) In 1984, Reagan signed into law a policy which forbade any agency receiving USAID funds from “performing or promoting” abortion in other countries. This policy, called the Mexico City Policy because it was announced at the UN International Conference on Population in Mexico City that year, is called the Global Gag Rule by activists all over the world. For example GIRE sister organization the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which has an affiliate organization in Mexico, refused to alter their services based on the retrogressive policy and lost some 20% of their funding. Leaders all over the world have denounced the policy. European Commissioner for Development Poul Nielson said, “Millions and millions of poor, marginalized women in this world need our support... If it is necessary for others to fill the decency gap in view of recent decisions, we will do it". Several European countries came together to create the Safe Abortion Access Fund in 2006, largely to fill that “decency gap.” GIRE and its allied organizations in Mexico City received funding from this initiative for a joint project which promotes the health indication for legal abortion. As a reminder, a co-honoree of GIRE’s director for the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Eleanor Roosevelt Award was Dr. Solomon Orero, a Kenyan physician who has battled the Global Gag rule. (Click here to read more about the award.) Since Reagan’s term ended, the Global Gag Rule has become a symbolic issue for presidents. Clinton repealed the policy as his first act as president, and George W. Bush reinstated it as his. It is likely that the U.S.’ next president, Barak Obama, will immediately re-repeal the Mexico City Policy. This could be great news for reproductive justice all over the world. To read a letter from GIRE’s sister organization the Center for Reproductive Rights calling on President-Elect Obama to respect reproductive rights click here. We here in Mexico are hoping that the new U.S. president will immediately repeal this draconian policy. Reinstating USAID funding would enable more organizations to fight for and provide services which are basic to women’s health and human rights, all over the world. English publication on how abortion became legal in Mexico City (October 30, 2008) GIRE is excited to announce the publication in English of a book documenting the historic battle that led to the decriminalization of abortion in the Mexican capital. The Process of Decriminalizing Abortion in Mexico City is the English-language version of El proceso de despenalización del aborto en la Ciudad de México, which was first published in May 2008. The book reveals who were the major players in achieving victory, the role of political parties, feminist and women’s groups, and how a well-organized civil society movement managed to build bridges with legislators, academics, professionals and the media. For more information please click here. Guttmacher Study Shows Abortion on the Rise in Mexico Despite Legal Restrictions (October 6, 2008) "It is clear from these findings that making abortion illegal does not decrease its frequency, it just makes it unsafe and puts women's lives at risk," says lead author Dr. Fatima Juarez. A summary of the results, which will be published in December, is available on the Guttmacher website, here. GIRE launches a new campaign! (September 4, 2008) Every Woman Deserves a Choice: Expanding Reproductive Rights to Mexican States [in Word format] Today, Mexico City is More Democratic, with More Freedoms (August 29, 2008) In Mexico, paid newspaper announcements are a common way for influential figures to make their opinions known. GIRE responded immediately to the Supreme Court decision by publishing a paid announcement today, in a major newspaper. Click here to read a translation of the text. For an image of the original paid announcement, click here. Abortion is now constitutional in Mexico! (August 28, 2008) Dear friends, We are elated to inform you that the Supreme Court has just voted in our favor—Abortion is now constitutional in Mexico! There are many legal subtleties to the decision and the arguments, so I am attaching translations of GIRE’s press releases from the last few days of deliberations which contain a little bit more detail. I would like to emphasize that this decision is extremely important for the future of women’s rights in Mexico. The strength of the vote (8 to 11: far better than we had hoped!) both upholds the law in Mexico City and creates space to manoeuvre in the other states in Mexico. Because Mexico is a federation, we will now have to extend the struggle for reproductive rights to each state in turn, based on the political circumstances. Our work will be far, far easier given this amazing Supreme Court decision. We are currently celebrating and re-grouping to respond immediately to this new context. Today, GIRE and allies published a full page ad in several major newspapers with the word VIDA (life), congratulating the justices on their commitment to women’s health and lives. The “V” is a woman’s hand, making the “victory” sign, available here. As always, we will keep you updated as the situation unfolds. GIRE’s director quoted in CNN report on Supreme Court Decision.(August 28, 2008) Please click here to read the article. The Supreme Court declared the decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City constitutional (August 28, 2008) A strong recognition of women’s fundamental rights. Please click here for a translation of GIRE’s press release Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Mexico City Abortion Law: Court Joins Global Trend of Loosening Restrictions on Abortion (August 27, 2008) by the Center of Reproductive Rights http://www.reproductiverights.org/pr_08_0827MexicoAbortion.html The majority of justices in favor of the decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City (August 27, 2008) In the Supreme Court, eight justices argued against the case file which declared the reforms unconstitutional Please click here for a translation of GIRE’s press release Second day of the Supreme Court debates on the constitutionality of the decriminalization of abortion (August 26, 2008) The Mexico City Legislative Assembly has legal standing to change the Health Law and Penal Code. Please click here for a translation of GIRE’s press release Today the Supreme Court debated procedural issues of the decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City (August 25, 2008) Tomorrow, Tuesday, the discussion on the merits of the legislative changes of April 2007 will be discussed. Please click here for a translation of GIRE’s press release. Supreme Court Case Briefing Released (August 20, 2008) As you know, the Mexican Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of the law which decriminalizes abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation in Mexico City is imminent. Last week, the justice responsible for organizing the discussion released his case briefing and opinion on the unconstitutionality claims. This justice is known to be very conservative, and as we predicted, his briefing finds against the Mexico City law. This briefing will serve to guide the discussion of the full Court, but the other justices are in no way limited by its content; they will debate and vote independently. The Court has announced that the discussion of the case will start August 25th, and will be broadcast on the Court’s webpage (www.scjn.gob.mx) starting at 11:00 am central time. We will, of course, post an update here on GIRE’s English website immediately when this historic decision is announced. We will also post information in the near future about our strategic response to the Court’s decision. We hope to have good news very soon. International AIDS Conference in Mexico City (August 4, 2008) This week, activists and public health professionals from all over the world have convened here in Mexico City for the XVII Annual AIDS Conference. GIRE’s Executive Director is participating, and one of our Policy Associates served on the organizing committee. This has been an excellent opportunity for GIRE to meet with reproductive and sexual health and rights professionals and allies. AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a huge problem in Mexico, and dovetail with issues of sexual health and access to reproductive health care. A recently-released study called the First Annual National Exclusion, Intolerance and Violence Survey showed that four in ten young people is sexually active without using protection. Because unprotected sex can lead to both unplanned pregnancies and the transmission of STIs, such statistics are very troubling. GIRE and the HIV/AIDS movement in Mexico work together for improved sexuality education and access to sexual and reproductive health services for all Mexicans. We hope that this AIDS Conference will provide even more opportunity for collaboration with our colleagues here in Mexico, and from around the world. GIRE staff are in Peru (July 22, 2008) Greetings friends, GIRE staff are in Peru this week, giving another seminar on GIRE’s successful model for social change—including communications strategies, political advocacy, and alliance building. This comes at a critical time for Peru, as restrictive abortion policies have proven fatal for Peru’s women. [Click HERE] to read a Human Rights Watch report on the reproductive rights situation in Peru. This report underscores the importance of three levels of social change: laws that allow abortion, public policies which enable administration, and public information to ensure that women are aware of their rights. HeRWAI (July 3, 2008) Recently, GIRE’s communications coordinator attended a Training of Trainers (ToT) for an innovative advocacy program called the Health Rights of Women Assessment Instrument (HeRWAI) in South Africa. She was chosen, after a series of interviews and presentations of GIRE’s work, to serve as the trainer on this strategic tool for all of Mexico. The HeRWAI program is designed to train health and human rights professionals all over the world to promote women’s health rights. This is GIRE’s focus as well, so we are pleased to have a tool to help systematize our work, and to have more opportunities to build capacity among allied networks all over the country. To check out the HeRWAI toolkit, [click here]. GIRE’s attendance at the ToT was reported in a newsletter published by our ally the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights. [Click here] for the newsletter. This newsletter also reports on an article that was recently published on human rights and abortion, written by an attorney who spent the spring at GIRE, analyzing the use of legal arguments to support abortion rights all over Latin America. The decriminalisation of abortion in Mexico City (June, 2008) This month an article by GIRE director María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes and staff members Jennifer Paine and Brook Elliott-Buettner was published in the Oxfam journal Gender and Development. The article is called The decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City: How did abortion rights become a political priority? and discusses the decriminalization of abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation in Mexico City and how it was politically and socially possible. [Click here to read the article in PDF] Of course, the future of this law hinges on the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision, and we will keep you updated. Chile (June 27, 2008) Hello from Chile! I, along with other veteran GIRE staffers and Marta Lamas, GIRE’s Board President, are currently in Chile hosting a training for allies in the feminist and reproductive rights movements on GIRE’s successful strategies. [Click here for more] Marie Stopes (June 19, 2008) In October 2007, GIRE’s Executive Director participated in a panel presentation on the process of decriminalizing abortion in Mexico City, as well as how we have strategically built the movement here, at the Marie Stopes Global Safe Abortion Conference in London. [Download a PDF] for a write-up of that presentation. [Click here] for the conference website, with other excellent presentations also available for download María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes, was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Award by the Feminist Majority Foundation (June 1, 2008) Click to enlarge L-R: FMF Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Ms. Magazine Kathy Spillar; Gala Co-Chair Mavis Nicholson Leno; Honoree Dr. Nafis Sadik; Honoree and GIRE Executive Director María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes; FMF President Ellie Smeal; FMF Chair of the Board Peg Yorkin; and Honoree Dr. Solomon Orero On May 7, 2008, our fabulous executive director, María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes, was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Award by the Feminist Majority Foundation, at the gala Global Awards event co-chaired by Mavis Nicholson Leno and Jay Leno. [Click for more] Public opinion survey on the Mexico City law, approximately one year after its passage. (April 26, 2008) GIRE’s partner Population Council, Mexico recently completed a public opinion survey on the Mexico City law, approximately one year after its passage. For a summary of the results, [download here in PDF] Leticia Bonifaz: Decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City, historic achievement for women (April 26, 2008) Public hearings on the constitutionality of the law which decriminalizes abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation in Mexico City began at the Federal Supreme Court on April 11, 2008.  On Friday April 25 justices, and the public, heard from officials and NGOs who defended the law’s constitutionality.  [Click HERE to read a newspaper article about the hearing] Rising Acceptance of the Capital’s Health Law (April 24, 2008) Public acceptance of the changes to the Mexico City Penal Code and Health Law has risen since May 2007, according to a survey completed by polling firm Ipsos-Bisma, contracted by Population Council, Mexico. This information was released during a breakfast conference between feminist groups... [Read more] GIRE and allies hosted a gala breakfast event to mark the one-year anniversary of the Mexico City law (April 24,2008) On April 23 2008, GIRE and allies hosted a gala breakfast event to mark the one-year anniversary of the Mexico City law. Guests and the press heard from speakers including GIRE co-founder and noted feminist thinker Marta Lamas, Minister of Health Dr. Manuel Mondragón, head of the left-wing PRD party in the Mexico City Legislative Assembly Victor Hugo Círigo, and Legal Council for Mexico City Leticia Bonifaz. A young woman who received legal abortion services under the law also gave moving testimony at the event. For pictures of the anniversary event, click the following: Click to enlarge Click to enlarge The audience listen to spekears Victor Hugo Círigo Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Testimony from a young woman who has received services under the law Manuel Mondragón, Marta Lamas, Leticia Bonifaz Click to enlarge Campaign materials on display at the event "One year of greater liberty, dignity and respect for women" (April 24, 2008) In Mexico, public figures often express their opinions in paid newspaper announcements called desplegados. These announcements are highly influential. To read and download the desplegado published by GIRE and allies to mark the one-year anniversary of the law, [click here] Updated Statistics on Abortion in Mexico City (April 15, 2008) Click the link to view the latest statistics published by the Mexico City Ministry of Health about legal abortion since the law was passed almost one year ago.[Download PDF] Court Open discussions (April 11, 2008) For the first time in its history, the Mexican Supreme Court will hear public arguments today on the pending challenges to the constitutionality of the law decriminalizing abortion in Mexico City.[Read] Sad news from Mexico City (March 7, 2008) On February 15th, a 15-year-old girl died as a result of complications from a legal abortion procedure in a Mexico City public hospital[Read] Mexico City Law in English (March 7, 2008) On April 26th, 2007, a law went into affect which officially decriminalizes abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation in Mexico City. The law also prioritizes sexual and reproductive health in the public health system, and stipulates that public hospitals must provide abortion services free of charge to all women who request them. Click the link to read the full text of this landmark legislation in English.[Download and read it in PDF] Happy New Year from GIRE (January 1st, 2008) 2008 is shaping up to be an exciting year for reproductive justice. As you know, the Mexican Supreme Court will soon hear the challenges to the constitutionality of the decriminalization of abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation in Mexico City…[Read more] GIRE Awarded Human Rights Prizes (November 27, 2007) This week, GIRE was selected to be honored for our women’s rights work by two separate government bodies in Mexico City! [Read more] Abortion is out of the shadows in Mexico City (November 3, 2007) Legalization of the procedure has meant a big change for pregnant women and girls. Antiabortion activists fear it will be legalized elsewhere. By Héctor Tobar. From the Los Angeles Times. [Download and read it in PDF] A Woman-Made Miracle (October 16, 2007) RH Reality Check's Emily Douglas spoke with María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes, executive director of the Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida (GIRE), or the Information Group on Reproductive Choice, about the "woman-made miracle" that took place in Mexico City in April 2007 [Read the blog] Appeasement is Lethal (October 3, 2007). By Gloria Feldt and María Luisa Sánchez Fuentes. From the Huffington Post: top news and opinion. [Read the blog] September 28th: International Day for the Decriminalization of Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean (September 28, 2007). Today, September 28th, is International Day for the Decriminalization of Abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean. To commemorate this important day, GIRE... [Read more] Abortions Pass the 2,000 Mark: Mexico City Ministry of Health (August 31, 2007). [Read more] 100 Days in Effect, 100 Days of Rights (August 2, 2007) [Read] Backlash Against Decriminalization (May 30th, 2007) [Read] Decriminalization Goes Into Effect Tomorrow! (April 26th, 2007)[Read] Victory! (April 24th, 2007) [Read] Victory is at Hand (April 19th, 2007) [Read]