On April 13, 2021, Somos Muchas and Optio, together with 42 other organizations, filed a Constitutional Claim against the State of Honduras to decriminalize abortion when a mother’s life is at risk, in cases of sexual violence, and when a fetus is nonviable.

The claim challenges the Honduran Congress’ recent reform to section 67 of the Constitution, which bans abortion for any reason under the constitution itself. Within the claim, we argue that the reform was illegal/ illegitimate because the Congress did not follow the constitutional reform process.

On June 7, 2021 the Supreme Court of Honduras granted certiorari to the claim and will review it within the Constitutional Section of the Supreme Court. This effort is being led by Somos Muchas, with the support of national and international organizations, including Optio.

Why was the recent Constitutional reform unconstitutional?

• The reform violates the right to life.
• The reform violates the right to health.
• The reform violates the principles of human dignity and the right to reproductive autonomy
• The reform violates the principle of equality and non-discrimination.
• The reform violates the principle of progression in human rights.

What are women asking the Court?

Somos Muchas is advocating for the right of women and girls to end their pregnancies under three circumstances:

1. When their lives and health are at risk
2.  When the pregnancy is a product of a rape, and
3. When the fetus is nonviable

Optio’s role
We will continue to support the national public campaign work, led by Somos Muchas, to educate the public on the arguments presented in this claim and teach decision-makers about the importance of granting women the right to end their pregnancies under these conditions.

Clara Lopez, Optio’s Women’s Health Coordinator, talks more about the Claim in the following video: https://www.facebook.com/1735128200075724/posts/2939068489681683/