You founded Las Libres in 2000 in Guanajuato. Did you start there because Guanajuato ranks as one of México’s most conservative states?

Men throughout México have not supported social, economic, or political gender equality. Domestically, men don’t share responsibility for housework or childcare. Nor do they supply child support. And the epidemic of femicides shows that our society does not value women’s lives. No wonder — in this environment — that women haven’t had the right to make autonomous reproductive decisions.

A big part of our work has been getting women to realize that they don’t have to accept violence or infringement of their bodily autonomy, that to get justice they must be bold and have the courage to make complaints.

Who has been responsible for charging women with these “crimes?”

Society, on the other hand, celebrates men’s sexuality. If a married man sees other women, he’s considered cool. In fact, if a married man doesn’t have affairs, he’s branded either a fool or gay.

But your movement succeeded in decriminalizing abortion, in a deeply Catholic nation!

Yes, last September, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled penalizing abortion unconstitutional. In our campaign, we separated “beliefs” from “rights,” religious from social. Now today more and more women are speaking out publicly about their own choice to abort. This encourages other women to seek the reproductive services they need without shame.

Under some of the new laws we’ve been able to pass, only girls younger than 12 need parental consent for an abortion. Child and teenage mothers are giving birth to 1,000 babies every day in México, often from rape or arranged marriages.

Do women have enough access to reproductive health services?

We favor medically induced, non-invasive abortions that can be done in the safety and privacy of home, with either in-person or virtual support from a woman in our network. But some women prefer to abort in a medical setting, and only hospitals have enough providers. That means limited access in rural areas. But no one at least need worry about cost. National health insurance covers these procedures. In one case, a state’s medical services sent, free of charge, a helicopter to pick up a girl who lived in the mountains.

What makes the presence of another woman so important?

We see the solidarity another woman’s presence can provide to a woman having an abortion as crucial. A successful experience depends on the support of other women who can protect and give legal advice, encourage and reassure.   

México is now moving ahead of the US in terms of women’s right to choose. With the drastic cuts in abortion services in Texas, you’re now getting calls for help from across the border. What message do you have for women north of the border?

We’re happy to help all women! We can get them the medications for at-home abortions and provide virtual accompaniment to support them through the procedure.

US women, please remember that things here in Guanajuato used to be much worse than what women are experiencing now in Texas. So don’t give up hope. Remember that we have a resource — the solidarity of women — that goes beyond money. And we women, contrary to what some men in power believe, count as people too. Remind male policy makers, at every opportunity, that no one can claim to support human rights without supporting the rights of women.