Balanced News: Mexico Decriminalizes Abortion, Extending Latin American Trend of Widening Access to Procedure 

Mexico’s Supreme Court has ruled that federal laws criminalizing abortion are unconstitutional, extending the trend of widening access to abortion in Latin America. The court ordered the removal of abortion from the federal penal code, allowing anyone to request the procedure without punishment. The decision follows a state-by-state process of decriminalization, with the central state of Aguascalientes becoming the 12th state to drop criminal penalties last week. This decision is expected to make it easier for abortion rights activists to seek legalization state by state. The trend in Latin America contrasts with increasing restrictions on abortion in parts of the United States.