Mexico City, Mexico - Last Friday, feminist organizations in Mexico demanded that the government decriminalize abortion in order to ensure women can legally access the procedure without facing jail time or risking their lives.

In Mexico, a woman can be tried for having an abortion and there is no safe way to interrupt an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy.

Livni Tircio, spokeswoman for the Sexual and Reproductive Rights Network of Mexico, said that there have been considerable setbacks for women's reproductive rights in the country, with at least 16 states modifying their local constitutions to prohibit abortions.

"Mexican women are being put in jail if they have an abortion, or are condemned to death because there is no safe way to get one," said Tircio.

She added that Mexico has not complied with previously signed agreements to protect women such as the Belem Do Pará convention, the Montevideo Consensus, or guidelines from the Committee to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Tircio says decriminalization is insufficient and that the procedure should be legal and free until the 12th week of the pregnancy in all Mexican states. The activist also urged to the government to adopt policies and programs to avoid pregnant teenagers from dropping out of school.

In addition, advocates have urged the Mexican government to implement better sex education and easier access to contraception.