Morelos faces push for abortion decriminalization and legal challenges

In Morelos, Mexico, more than 2,600 women, girls, and adolescents accessed pregnancy terminations resulting from sexual assault over the last two years. According to data from the Secretariat of Health, 1,377 procedures were recorded in 2024 and 1,299 in 2025.

Advocacy group Divulgadoras is calling for the Safe Abortion Program to be guaranteed across all health units and hospitals in the state to ensure victims can access services without traveling to other municipalities.

Simultaneously, the state could move toward broader decriminalization if the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) decides to take up and resolve a legal challenge (amparo) filed by two local doctors. The lawsuit seeks to rule that provisions in the Penal Code criminalizing voluntary pregnancy termination are inapplicable. This would aim to prevent medical personnel from facing criminal sanctions and ensure broader legal protection for those seeking reproductive healthcare. A key date for a response from the Supreme Court is expected on September 24.