As part of a series called “Women’s rights and gender equality in focus,” The Guardian released an article and video discussing Mexico’s strict abortion laws and an interactive on abortion rights around the world.

The Guardian: Mexican women pay high price for country’s rigid abortion laws
“…Mexico has some of the strictest abortion laws in the world. In many states abortion is a punishable offense. At least 679 women were reported or sentenced for the crime of abortion between 2009 and 2011, according to GIRE, a reproductive rights organization. Some women … have been accused of murder after suffering a miscarriage…” (Gaestel, 10/1).

The Guardian: Abortion in Mexico: Catholics, the law and the right to choose — video
“A tale of two women caught up in Mexico’s complex abortion debate, with passion on both sides as the Catholic church pits itself against women’s rights campaigners. Adriana Manzanares experienced a miscarriage but her suffering did not end there: because of her state’s draconian abortion laws, she was sentenced to 27 years in prison. For another young woman from Puebla, Mexico City’s more liberal abortion laws offered an opportunity to restart her life after an unwanted pregnancy…” (Shelley et al., 10/1).

The Guardian: Abortion rights around the world — interactive
“Continent-wide summaries and country-by-country breakdowns of abortion rights, including where the procedure is permitted and for what reasons — to save a woman’s life, to preserve her health, after rape or incest, for economic or social reasons, or on request. Plus, discover the six states in the world that do not permit abortion under any circumstances…” (Ford/Galatsidas, 10/1).