Mexico City, Mexico – Amnesty International’s most recent Memorandum to Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto recommends the country liberalize abortion laws, as the current constitutions of many of its states are "recognizing the ‘right to life of the fetus from conception,’" and are "undermining the enjoyment of women’s and girl’s sexual and reproductive rights."

The term "girls" is only used in the Spanish version of the Memorandum. The English version mentions only women in this paragraph. The report, titled "Human Rights Challenges Facing Mexico," goes on to recommend that Mexico end the "criminalization of abortion" to ensure "women and girl’s access to safe abortion services in cases of rape, incest, and where the woman or girl’s health is at risk."

The document was issued last month, after Salil Shetty, Secretary General for Amnesty International, visited the country and held meetings with several Mexican authorities, including the president. Last year, 18 of the 32 Mexican entities reformed their constitutions in order to protect the life of the unborn from conception.

The reforms were later backed-up by Mexico’s Supreme Judicial Court, making the new laws "ironclad." The Mexican Constitution states in its 40th article that states are "free and sovereign," and can therefore have their own laws as long as they do not go against the country’s constitution.

Read Amnesty International's Memorandum to President Enrique Peña Nieto