Mexican Supreme Court upholds personhood amendments

The Supreme Court of Mexico voted to upheld the legitimacy of state personhood amendments Wednesday, in what some are calling Mexico’s “reverse Roe v. Wade” decision.

The court failed to reach the super-majority needed to overturn Baja California’s personhood amendment prohibiting abortion, thanks to the court’s newest appointee, Justice Jorge Mario Pardo Rebolledo, who sided with three other members of the court in rejecting an Action for Unconstitutionality. A similar decision was reached in the San Luis Potosi case Thursday. The twin decisions ensure that preborn children will continue to be considered legal persons with due protections under the state constitutions.

In reaction to Mexico City’s federal legalization of abortion in 2009, eighteen out of thirty-one Mexican states have legally recognized personhood protections for preborn children. These initiatives have received resounding support from every major political party, including the PAN, PRI, and PRD.

Additionally, Mexican President Calderon requested this week that the senate withdraw its reservation to Article 4 of the American Convention on Human Rights, which until now exempted the country from its obligation to protect life from conception.

American advocates of personhood are encouraged by the decisions, which demonstrate personhood is a viable strategy that is working right now in other places. At the top of their agenda is Mississippi’s Amendment 26, which recently won its State Supreme Court case ensuring that voters are able to affirm personhood on the November 2011 ballot.