In recent years, protests for Latin America’s reproductive rights have been overwhelmed with thousands of brightly colored handkerchiefs.
They are the green wave, an effort to expand rights in the region. This movement has been successful. Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia have all legalized or decriminalized abortion in the past two years. Chile and other neighboring countries could follow suit.
Reproductive rights advocates in the United States might be turning to Latin America’s counterparts for ideas and strategies now that federal abortion protections have been removed in the U.S.
Maria Antonieta Alcalde, the director of IPAs Central America and Mexico is an organization that supports safe and legal access to abortion around the globe. All Things Considered brought her perspective from her own work and gave insight into the future of the U.S. movement.
This interview was lightly edited to increase clarity and length.
What is happening in Latin America’s reproductive rights movement?
The green wave has been a key factor in Latin America’s advancement of abortion rights. This movement is grassroots. This is a movement that has many young people participating. Because of the legal restrictions in Latin America, I believe that we had to look at every avenue to promote safe abortion access, within legal limitations, and also mobilize. We mobilized through large organizations as well as national and regional organisations.
Because you don’t need to be a member of any political party or organization, the green movement is very inclusive. You don’t even have to donate. All you have to do is show up and wear your green scarf.
How has greater access to abortions led to more abortions?
Mexico, as well as most Latin American countries, has a public healthcare system that is different than the U.S. Mexico City allows women to have abortions free of charge because the government is required to provide health care for everyone.
We have discovered that women have less access to abortion when it is legalized.
Mexico offers a high quality service for women who come to Mexico to stop their pregnancy. They also get counseling in cases where they are experiencing violence. They can also access other services that may be available to them to help them escape these situations. They also receive contraceptives at no cost. Most women who visit a clinic to have an abortion leave with both the contraceptives and the abortion. It’s usually a long-term, acting contraceptive such as an implant.
They offer vasectomies to their partners if they bring their partners. You can provide legal abortions in the public healthcare system. This allows you to address the needs and concerns of the most vulnerable. These are the people who come to the public health system. You can offer comprehensive services to prevent them coming back with another unwanted pregnancy.
The U.S. abortion rights movement has failed.
It is a great time to reflect on ourselves. I feel like I am part of the U.S. movement.
Perhaps the first is that the U.S. is isolated. We are all united when you look at the global abortion and sexual reproductive rights movements. The green wave is not an expression that refers to the Argentinian, Colombian, or Chilean movements. We are all one. We learn from one another.
Another factor is the fact that they have a portion of their strength in large organizations. This is Planned Parenthood, or the Center for Reproductive rights. It’s not about accessing abortion. It’s about Planned Parenthood. There is no room for anyone to disagree with you, even if they are not part of the organization.
It was a mistake to think that it had hindered the movement. There are other expressions, such as expressions from Latina, and expressions from African American, that haven’t been as strong within the morals of large organizations.
The third is that the U.S. model is extremely clinical. Access to abortion services in the U.S. is provided in a clinic that has all the necessary infrastructure and medical equipment. In contrast, other countries have a stronger access route. Women are becoming more independent in managing their abortions.
If she still believes in the U.S. abortion rights movement.
These are, I believe, foundational or re-foundational moments in the U.S.
This is the right time for the movement’s self-analysis. When I criticize the U.S. Movement, I do so with a lot recognition of the movement’s work.
It will also be a waste if the movement does not take this moment, perhaps the most painful in its history, to rethink itself as a movement.
This is the time to be critical. Not with the intention of pointing fingers at one another, but with the goal of strengthening the movement. Again, I believe that the work we have done in Latin America and other countries could prove to be very helpful.
