Talking about abortion in Mexico
December 16, 2009 by Elizabeth Toledo
Mexico City pays for early abortion for any women who seeks it. Contrast that to the U.S. healthcare reform efforts, which have devolved into a debate over how best to reassure taxpayers that federal funds will not be used to pay for women to access abortion.
We can learn a lot by studying the communications strategies of Mexican health advocates, who a few years ago defied all odds and legalized first trimester abortion in Mexico City. “We didn’t take the streets, we took the media”, observed Maria Luisa Sanchez Fuentes, one of the primary leaders of the Mexican legalization movement.
We recently sat down with Sanchez Fuentes when she was an honored guest speaker at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health gala. We asked her to talk about what communications strategies broke through the political and religious barriers that had thwarted efforts for decades to legalize abortion anywhere in Mexico. GIRE, the national Mexican organization headed by Sanchez Fuentes, has a long road ahead to further liberalize legal access to abortion in Mexico. The political and legal backlash to the Mexico City gains in other Mexican localities have been severe. But what is clear is that GIRE and their allies are walking down a different message road than U.S.-based abortion supporters, and creating public support for legal abortion within a very different values context.
You can watch the interview with Sanchez Fuentes here.
The first thing that might surprise you is the amount of support that exists for legal abortion among Mexicans. In the United States, the conventional wisdom often is that Mexicans on both sides of the border are guided by Catholic doctrine on abortion. While the influence of Catholic leadership must be seriously considered, this blanket assumption needs another look. A recent poll by the Mexican government found that 62% of Mexicans say they “don’t believe the government should intervene in a woman’s right to choose.” In Mexico City, a poll commissioned by the Population Council found that 66% of residents “thought the city’s decriminalization laws signaled a step forward for the country”. In media interviews, Catholic leaders in Mexico bemoaned the practice of Catholics straying from church doctrine and warned healthcare providers that they will go to hell for providing abortion. In what may be a sign of Catholics separating their decisions on abortion from their religious beliefs, one Catholic abortion provider in Mexico City said she may end up going to hell, but not for providing abortion care.
Recent polls in the United States show some movement in public opinion among Latinos, but more research is needed to fully understand the real views of this demographic. Pew’s latest poll on abortion attitudes found that “while whites have become significantly more pro-life, the movement among Hispanics has been primarily into the undecided camp”.
Sanchez Fuentes described what has – and what has not – been effective in abortion messaging among Mexicans. Their best message focused on the decision, and who had the right to make it. This dialogue was grounded in human rights language, connecting human values to the decision-making process. Rather than focusing on an individualistic perspective, such as the interruption of a life plan, their messages focused on the complexity of the decision, such as when and how to start a family. They took on opponents with a messaging campaign about “life” and “family” taking ownership of the complexity of those concepts.
These message strategies are in synch with a recent worldwide survey of attitudes about human rights. Mexico led the world in support for women’s right to have full equality compared to men as well as the desire to have government play a larger role in preventing discrimination against women. In contrast, respondents in the U.S. strongly endorsed the concept of gender equality but did not favor greater government efforts to achieve equality. A survey of attitudes is a great distance from lived realities, but it may demonstrate an opportunity to center reproductive health access in a human rights message model.
Sanchez Fuentes suggests that U.S. and Mexican movement leaders come together to learn from each other. A cross-border summit on messaging and reproductive health could, among other things, help us deepen our understanding of promoting a values-based discussion in political climates that are deeply impacted by religious doctrine. As Mexico lurches forward in liberalizing abortion access while the United States teeters on the edge of backsliding, such a cross-border convening could be a powerful strategic investment.
CNN.com exclusive: Latinas Need Voice In Abortion Debate By Silvia Henriquez, NLIRH!
December 14, 2009 by Elizabeth Toledo
In this exclusive Op-Ed for CNN.com/Opinion, read by 40 million people every month, Ms. Henriquez highlights the growing political power of Latinas and demands reproductive justice for the millions of women across the United States in danger of losing abortion coverage as a result of anti-choice politics in health care reform.
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard from Latinas and their families who were outraged by proposed amendments that could potentially roll back our ability to access safe abortion care. This amendment would make a legal medical procedure financially inaccessible for many women – even those who prior to health care reform had abortion coverage through their own insurance if that insurance is then offered in the public exchange.
“Latinas called their senators and wrote letters on behalf of daughters, sisters, aunts and mothers in their communities, urging policy makers to vote for health care reform that includes coverage for abortion, and provides health care access for immigrants.
“Opponents argue that more women will be covered under overall health care reform, as if that should satisfy us. The fact remains: if millions of low-and moderate income women covered under a new federally subsidized health system can’t access abortion care from an insurance plan bought even partly with federal support, policy makers are essentially telling them that they do not matter—that the reality of their lives must be ignored. The legacy of health care reform should not be to send women back into the shadows for a procedure allowed under U.S. law. We have worked too hard to reform our health care system for women to be worse off than they were before.”
Check out the full piece at http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/12/11/henriquez.latina.abortion/index.html
CNN.com/Opinion features national voices including Congress members, journalists, and academics.
And last week’s New York Times published a Letter to the Editor from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH)! In response to Cardinal Mahony’s earlier Op-Ed, Coverage without Borders, Silvia Henriquez wrote, “The lesson learned from the last three decades of misguided federal policy on abortion is that creating a two-tier system of access to health care is unfair, punitive and harmful.”
Here’s the full letter:
To the Editor:
Re “Coverage Without Borders,” by Roger Mahony (Op-Ed, Dec. 8):
Cardinal Mahony’s article in favor of health care access for immigrants is an important message to elected officials grappling with reform legislation. Sadly, I couldn’t help note the irony of advocating on behalf of immigrants, while in the same breath urging policy makers to deny reproductive health care for millions of women. Over half of all immigrants are women.
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health knows very well the devastating impact of making abortion elusive for those who can’t pay with personal funds. Latinas are among the poorest in this country and tend to lack access to health insurance in higher numbers than other groups. In fact, one in four women living in poverty who wants to choose abortion can’t because politicians prevent federal tax dollars from covering the procedure.
The lesson learned from the last three decades of misguided federal policy on abortion is that creating a two-tier system of access to health care is unfair, punitive and harmful.
To quote Cardinal Mahony: “To allow people’s basic health needs to be trumped by divisive politics violates American standards of decency and compassion.” We couldn’t agree more.
Silvia Henriquez
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
New York, NY
Congratulations to NLIRH and its campaign for real health care reform for women and immigrants.
Camino Client Debuts on Huffington Post
September 16, 2009 by Elizabeth Toledo
Camino client NLIRH debuts today on The Huffington Post, the most prominent liberal blog in the nation with an estimated 5.6 million visitors. In 2008, The Huffington Post gained the most news readers of all news outlets. Sylvia Henriquez made a forceful case in her op ed for changing the national dialogue on teen sexuality. The article stems from their recently published White Paper on Latina Pregnancy, which makes the case for a reproductive justice framework. Congratulations National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health! Click here for the full article.
Camino PR client, NLIRH, featured in Sotomayor confirmation media coverage
August 10, 2009 by Admin
Hispanosphere, the prominent Latino current events and politics blog for The Orlando Sentinel, covered NLIRH in its round-up of national expert commentary on Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. Featured alongside Tim Kaine of the Democratic National Committee, Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman, Florida Democratic Party Chair, SEIU, the National Partnership for Women & Families, National Council of La Raza, among others, the nation’s leading Latina voice for reproductive health and rights was quoted as saying, “The Senate confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor heralds a new era of diversity in our courts. Judge Sotomayor offers inspiration for Latinas as her confirmation has challenged stereotypes and demonstrated the growing political power of the Latino community,” said Silvia Henriquez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH). Judge Sotomayor will play a pivotal role in promoting the dignity and well being of our families and our communities. Her confirmation signals hope for not only expanded legal access to abortion but also for expanded social access to the full range of reproductive health care, such as health care funding for poor women. Judge Sotomayor’s body of work and judicial philosophy reveals a sophisticated analysis of social issues and the important role of the court in safeguarding human dignities.”
And, in more exciting news, on the week that Judge Sotomayor begins her new role as Supreme Court Justice, NLIRH will host a national ‘Quinceañera’ gala to celebrate the coming-of-age of a new era of Latina empowerment. NLIRH was founded fifteen years after the first Latina was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and fifteen years later we are ready to toast the first Latina to sit on the nation’s highest court. Camino PR is proud to celebrate this tremendous achievement with NLIRH.
Camino PR client NLIRH makes the Wall Street Journal today!
July 21, 2009 by Admin
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) announcement of its support for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor got picked up in the Wall Street Journal Washington Wire. NLIRH is the only latina reproductive health and justice advocacy group to date to be quoted in any national news outlets on the nomination. We expect Silvia Henriquez and her team to stay in the spotlight as Judge Sotomayor moves closer to making history on the Supreme Court. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect - NLIRH celebrates its 15th anniversary at a major Washington DC gala just as the new Supreme Court begins their work in October. The “Quincineara” celebration for NLIRH marks a new coming-of-age for the Latino/a civil rights movement, and seeing Judge Sotomayor starting her new job will be a fitting tribute to NLIRH’s 15 years of leadership. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/07/21/after-waiting-weeks-abortion-rights-group-backs-sotomayor/
Camino PR helps put Latina health needs in the news!
May 13, 2009 by Admin
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and Planned Parenthood Federation of America were the focus of a Chronicle of Philanthropy article about President Obama’s budget proposals. Cecile Richards and Silvia Henriquez had eloquent quotes about the need to put public health care needs ahead of politics. Click here for the original article, the full text below:
May 08, 2009
2010 Federal Budget
Two Women’s Health Groups Criticize President’s Budget
Officials from two women’s health and family planning groups have released statements expressing concern and disappointment over President Obama’s 2010 budget, released yesterday.
Officials from the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health– said in new releases that they were discouraged that the Obama administration did not seek to strike restrictions on government financing of abortions.
“We are disappointed that the budget did not remove restrictions on women’s ability to access the full range of reproductive heath-care services, said Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood’s president. “Placing onerous restrictions on women is not effective public policy.” She added that her group plans to encourage the president and Congress to remove the restrictions.
Officials at National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health said Hispanic women make up almost 25 percent of women who are of reproductive age and who rely on Medicaid. Silvia Henriquez, the organization’s director said the decision to retain such restrictions, especially in a time of financial crisis for many people, “perpetuates a two-tier system in the U.S.: women with private health insurance or private funds can access abortion, but poor women cannot.”
Ms. Richards, of Planned Parenthood, said while such restrictions were disappointing, other requests in the budget were “a step in the right direction.” Among them: efforts to fight pregnancy among teenagers.
Ms. Richards also said a $10-million increase in the Title X family planning program, bringing support for the program up to $317-million, while “modest” was good news, but that more needed to be done for the program so it could keep up with inflation and demand.