Legislators in Mexican state pledge not to discuss decriminalizing abortion 

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Toluca, Mexico, Aug 21, 2021 / 06:01 am (CNA).

A pro-life activist welcomed Wednesday a commitment from legislators in the state of Mexico not to discuss any bill to decriminalize abortion in the coming days.

Ángeles Bravo, coordinator of the National Front for the Family in Mexico state, said Aug. 18, “we thank the president of the Board for Political Coordination for publicly affirming his commitment not to discuss the proposals regarding the decriminalization of abortion in the extraordinary sessions that will take place in the coming weeks, before the turnover in the legislature.”

In recent weeks, feminist groups have pressured the legislators in Mexico state, one of the 32 federal entities of the country of Mexico, to pass a bill to decriminalize abortion that was introduced in July 2019.

The regular session of the Congress of the State of Mexico ended Aug. 13, though it is possible that extraordinary sessions could be held in the coming days.

The new legislators elected this June will take office Sept. 5 for a three year term.

Following a "honk for the love of life" caravan that made its way through the streets of Toluca, the capital of Mexico state, leaders of organizations defending life and the family met with state representatives Maurilio Hernández and Juliana Felipa Arias Calderón.

More than 10,000 people have signed a petition expressing their opposition to decriminalizing abortion in the state.

Abortion was legalized for up to 12 weeks pregnancy in Mexico City in 2007 with an estimated 230,000 children in the womb who have been killed. Mexican states that have legalized abortion up to 12 weeks are Hidalgo,  Oaxaca, and Veracruz.