Abortion and politics in Mexico: 'Context is all'

A strong collective pro-choice mentality was recently manifested in Mexico when a legislative initiative to revoke the legal right of rape survivor to abortion in the state of Guanajuato awakened national indignation. Pro-cho ice values were expressed in public opinion with such force that it sparked off the passage of liberalising law reforms in Mexico City and the state o f Morelos. In this paper we trace the development of these manifestations o f pro-choice views, beginning with the Democratic Revolution Party's (PRD) refusal in 1999 to modify abortion legislation within the context of penal code reform, and moving through the events surrounding the Guanajuato refor m, and the pro-choice response of Mexico City and Morelos legislators. This analysis allows us to recognise the emergence of a pro-choice consciousnes s and to understand that, when it comes to abortion, 'context is all'.(1).