The huge pro-choice victory that no one is talking about

Women, feminist allies, and people who generally care about human rights and bodily autonomy for all are rejoicing today as abortion is officially decriminalised across Australia, and in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.

New South Wales was the only Australian state where abortion was still illegal - up until now.

Despite a disturbing level of opposition, a law which prohibited abortion unless there was "serious risk" to a woman's health has now been overturned.

But the Mexico ruling - which has received far less attention - could have an even greater impact.

This week, Oaxaca became the second Mexican state to legalise abortion after Mexico City, essentially doubling the number of women who will have access to the procedure.

According to 2010 statistics, 83 per cent of Mexico identifies as Catholic.

The landmark ruling came as pro-choice activists flooded the streets outside Congress, wearing green scarves - the international symbol of abortion rights - and chanting:

We have to abort, we have to abort this patriarchal system!

They also carried banners reading:

The debate is not abortion or not abortion, but a legal or clandestine one.

In Oaxaca, more than 9,000 women seek illegal abortions every year, which can be life-threatening.

The law only allows abortion up to 12 weeks, which is considered incredibly restrictive, as many women don't even know they're pregnant at that point.

Over in Australia, women in NSW will be able to access abortions until 22 weeks, which is still more restrictive than the UK (24 weeks) and the USA, which allows abortions before the foetus is "viable" - usually estimated to be between 24 and 28 weeks.

Some took the opportunity to call out the Draconian anti-abortion laws in other regions.

The ruling in New South Wales came just hours after Australian Capital Territory legalised recreational cannabis for personal use, making it only one of a handful of territories in the world to do so.

All in all, it's been a good week for progressives around the globe.

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