International reporting
Abortion: Mexican women share their experience with their American neighbors
Audio 02:19
Veronica Cruz, director of Las Libres, an abortion advocacy group, speaks during a meeting of Mexican and American activists, in Matamoros, Mexico, Friday, January 21, 2022. AP - Maria Verza
By: Gwendolina Duval
2 mins
Having an abortion in the United States has become difficult, even prohibited in some states since the cancellation of the Roe vs. Wade ruling on June 24.
In neighboring Mexico, where abortion ended up being decriminalised, on the contrary, the abortion ban forced women for decades to help each other to get information and be able to abort themselves.
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From our correspondent in Mexico City,
“
What needs to be said is that we have always worked underground…always.
Mariela Castro is the spokesperson for Marea Verde in Chihuahua, a feminist collective that participates in sending abortion drugs every day to American women who request it.
“
A road has been created to bring the drugs.
It may be contraband for some people, but for us it is a right
,” adds Marea Verde.
The drug is Misoprostol, normally used to treat stomach ulcers.
In pregnant women, it also causes termination of pregnancy.
“
The only thing that's going to happen is you're going to feel bad for a while.
It only lasts a few hours, and that only once.
Then it's over,
says Marea Verde.
At no time does Misoprostol compromise life or future reproductive health.
»
With a particular dosage and according to a specific protocol, this drug is now recommended by the WHO for terminating a pregnancy.
“
Abortion by medication was a great revolution.
“says Veronica Cruz.
She has been directing the Las Libres network for 20 years.
For her, international mutual aid and the dissemination of scientific information are the best weapons to deal with government restrictions.
Self-determination
“
Abortion with drugs at home without medical supervision is above all the self-determination by women of their life project.
In the United States, there is the belief that abortion is only done in clinics or that abortion can only be done by doctors,
explains the head of the Las Libres network
.
So when we know that women can make their own decisions, that women can be in charge of controlling their sexuality and their reproduction, their life and their body, that's the big threat
.
It must be understood that we do not want the state to regulate our bodies and our decisions, but we want the state to guarantee services and our rights.
»
Every day, hundreds of women in the United States and Mexico appeal to these feminist collectives to have an abortion.
Mariela Castro is convinced of this: to improve access to abortion, you have to go through self-management.
“
There are great lessons to be learned from the Mexican experience.
We are many, we form networks that are strong, we have the know-how, as well as the inspiration and the strong conviction that although the state says no, I can have an abortion at home.
»
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