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 Editorials | Issues | June 2007 
Latest Legal Challenge to Mexico Abortion Law Pushes for Human Rights of "Conceived Persons"
 Elizabeth O’Brien - LifesiteNews.com
| | An abortion-rights supporter dressed as a nun celebrates the vote to legalize abortion. (Associated Press) |
Mexico City – The government of Mexico will review a “Declaration of Conceived Person’s Human Rights” that may effect Mexico City’s new abortion law, reports the California Catholic Daily. The document was brought forward by Familia Eucarística (Eucharistic Family) and other pro-life groups and explains how scientific findings in the area of human DNA demonstrate that each embryo is a human person.
A series of scientists, analysts and scholars compiled the document, which calls for the recognition of every unborn life as a person. The authors of the Declaration base their claim on specific findings about the human genetic code that demonstrate that human DNA is incredibly complex from the moment of conception; that every fertilized egg is an unrepeatable entity that follows its own path of development; and that each unique life, therefore, is an individual person.
“Every conceived person, in his or her mother’s womb, has the right to be recognized as a member of the human species and, for this reason, has all the human rights recognized by the United Nations and other international and national institutions,” reads the Declaration, as quoted in the California Catholic Daily.
The Declaration also states, “Every conceived person will enjoy the special protection of his or her parents and the state, and should have access to the opportunities and services necessary for his or her physical, mental, spiritual and social full development.”
These fundamental rights are also set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 3 states, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” Further, the Mexican Constitution declares in Article 14 that, “No law shall be given retroactive effect to the detriment of any person whatsoever. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, possessions, or rights without a trial by a duly created court in which the essential formalities of procedure are observed and in accordance with laws issued prior to the act.”
If the Supreme Court accepts the Declaration and its view of personhood, the new law allowing abortion within the Mexico City Federal District would be considered as violating the Mexican Constitution. Abortion has been legal in Mexico City for less than two months, and already the law has been challenged by Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora and is under investigation by the National Human Rights Committee.
Cardinal Norberto Rivera, primate Archbishop of Mexico, gave his full support to the Declaration. The Supreme Court, the Interior Minister and the federal Congress will all review the document. The California Catholic reports that promoters of the new Declaration hope that it may change the trend in international as well as Mexican legislation. |
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