In September 2021, the Mexican Supreme Court declared the total criminalization of abortion unconstitutional, overturning a statute punishing women with up to three years of imprisonment. The court also rebutted a section of the Sinaloa Constitution protecting life from conception. Before 2021, abortion was severely restricted in Mexico, with over 500,000 women seeking illegal abortions annually. The criminalization of abortion encourages women to use unsafe options, endangering their lives and health, and exacerbating inequality and injustice. The Catholic Church has a significant influence on Mexican society.