Latin America’s Green Wave
The Green Wave reproductive rights movement advocates for expanded access to abortion throughout Latin America.
The Center for Reproductive Rights and its partners are members of the Green Wave reproductive rights movement, which advocates for expanded abortion access throughout Latin America. The movement is named for the green bandanas worn by its members.
Learn more.
Global Impact of the “They Are Girls, Not Mothers” Rulings
The Center’s Catalina Martínez Coral and movement partners discuss the landmark decisions by the UN Committee on Human Rights.
The Green Wave’s efforts have resulted in significant advances for reproductive rights in Latin America, including:
- The United Nations Human Rights Committee ruling in 2025 in the “They Are Girls, Not Mothers” cases setting new human rights standards to ensure sexual abuse survivors have access to sexual education and safe abortion services. The rulings came in cases brought by the Center and its partners on behalf of three girls from Ecuador and Nicaragua who were raped at ages 12 and 13, denied access to abortion and other health services, and forced to remain pregnant and give birth. The rulings extend to 173 countries that are member States of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
- The Inter-American Court of Human Rights 2024 ruling that El Salvador violated the rights of a woman, Beatriz, by denying her abortion care for her high-risk pregnancy. The Court ordered El Salvador to provide legal certainty to health personnel so they can proceed in cases where life or health is at risk.
- The ruling by Mexico’s highest court to decriminalize abortion nationwide on the federal level in 2023. The ruling affirms that federal authorities cannot criminalize people seeking abortion services at federal healthcare institutions and affirms that healthcare personnel cannot be prosecuted for providing abortion services.
- The Constitutional Court of Colombia’s ruling to decriminalize abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation in 2022 in the “Causa Justa” lawsuit by the Center and its partners.
- A 2021 ruling by the Supreme Court of Mexico declaring unconstitutional the absolute criminalization of abortion. The Court unanimously recognized a constitutional right to legal, safe, and free abortion services at the initial stages of pregnancy, as well as in other situations.
- The Constitutional Court of Ecuador ruling in 2021 expanding the exceptions for legal abortion, including access in case of rape. Previously, exceptions were only considered when the woman’s health or life was at risk.
- In 2020, a law decriminalizing abortion in Argentina up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Previously, Argentina permitted abortion only in cases of rape or incest or to save the mother’s life.
The Latin American Green Wave Takes Los Angeles
Center and movement partners lead activities to bring attention to reproductive rights issues in Latin America.
Watch for more news from the Center about the Green Wave and progress in Latin American reproductive rights.
Read more about the Green Wave:
- “Let’s Talk Repro” Series: Making Waves in Colombia with Catalina Martínez Coral
- Report: Colombia: Historic Advancement in the Decriminalization of Abortion (English and Spanish versions)
- Center Leaders in Latin America Discuss Mexico Ruling Decriminalizing Abortion
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