The Mexican Supreme Court has agreed to review an appeal filed by the Baja California attorney general's Office for Human Rights challenging recent changes in the state's constitution that grant legal protections from the moment of conception, the AP/MSNBC reports. The appeal argues that the new constitutional clause, which was enacted Dec. 26, 2008, violates women's rights to choice in matters of birth control and that it seems intended to overturn the current law allowing abortions in cases of rape or threats to the woman's life. The clause states, "An individual is granted legal protection from the moment in which they are conceived." Officials who support the change said restricting abortion is not their intention and that it was enacted to prevent attempts at broadening legalization of abortion or legalizing the death penalty. The Supreme Court did not give a deadline for hearing the appeal, the AP/MSNBC reports. According to the AP/MSNBC, no abortions have been denied under the clause to date (AP/MSNBC, 1/29).

Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.