TIME00251

TIME00251
Latin America and the Caribbean
Bolivia
No
Critical event
Restrict
Constitutional reform
02-2009
Bolivia: New Constitution acknowledged “marriage” and “free unions” as only those occurring “between a woman and a man.”

TIME00252

TIME00252
Latin America and the Caribbean
Brazil
Yes
Abortion
Advance
Debate over legal reform
02-2009
Brazil: PL 4725 – Presentation of a bill providing for assistance to women victims of rape who wish to obtain a legal abortion.

TIME00253

TIME00253
Latin America and the Caribbean
Chile
No
Critical event
Advance
Social mobilization
02-2009
Chile: The Unified Movement for Sexual Minorities organized its first-ever mass wedding for sexual minorities in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

TIME00254

TIME00254
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico
Yes
Abortion
Restrict
Legal reform
02-2009
Mexico: The local congress of the state of Colima reformed article 1 of its Constitution to provide legal protection to embryos, which it defined as “a human being in formation and development”.

TIME00255

TIME00255
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico
Yes
Abortion
Restrict
Legal reform
03-2009
Mexico: The local congress of the state of Jalisco reformed its Constitution to “protect and ensure the public subjective right of the individual to life, from conception to natural death.”

TIME00256

TIME00256
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico
Yes
Abortion
Restrict
Legal reform
03-2009
Mexico: The local congress of the state of Puebla reformed its Constitution to protect life from the moment of conception and to strengthen the family.

TIME00257

TIME00257
Latin America and the Caribbean
Peru
Yes
Abortion
Restrict
Court ruling
03-2009
Peru: Decision 16325-2008 – A first instance court from Lima (the Sixth Constitutional Court of Lima) ruled against a claim filed against the Ministry of Health for neglecting to issue and implement Therapeutic Abortion Guidelines.

TIME00258

TIME00258
Latin America and the Caribbean
El Salvador
Yes
Abortion
Advance
Social mobilization
04-2009
El Salvador: Creation of the Citizens’ Coalition for the Decriminalization of Abortion.

TIME00259

TIME00259
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico
Yes
Abortion
Restrict
Legal reform
04-2009
Mexico: The local congress of the state of Quintana Roo reformed article 13 of its Constitution to recognize, protect, and guarantee the right to life of every human being from the moment of conception until its natural death.

TIME00260

TIME00260
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico
Yes
Abortion
Restrict
Legal reform
04-2009
Mexico: The local congress of the state of Durango reformed article 1 of its Constitution to recognize, protect, and guarantee the right to life of every human being from the moment of fertilization until its natural death.