Mexico’s top court backs abortion law

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s Supreme Court was poised Wednesday to uphold legal abortion in the capital despite deep opposition elsewhere in the heavily Catholic country.

Eight of the 11 Supreme Court justices said during deliberations that they would vote against declaring the law unconstitutional. Eight votes would be needed to strike it down, but only three judges have spoken in favor of doing so. The justices were expected to take a formal vote within the next couple of days.

“To affirm that there is an absolute constitutional protection of life in gestation would lead to the violation of the fundamental rights of women,” said Justice Sergio Valls.

Mexico City made it legal last year for doctors to terminate a pregnancy in the first 12 weeks, part of a package of socially liberal measures passed by the capital’s leftist-dominated assembly last year. Lawmakers also approved same-sex civil unions and passed protections for terminally ill people who reject medical treatment.

The federal attorney general’s office and National Human Rights Commission appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that city assemblies can’t make health laws.

Since the law took effect, more than 12,000 women have had abortions at the 14 Mexico City hospitals providing them, according to the city health department.