Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement that El Salvador should apply a moratorium on laws that punish women with harsh jail terms for having an abortion while it reviews cases of those already incarcerated. Women are being imprisoned for the crime of "aggravated homicide" due to what he described as obstetric emergencies.
"I am appalled that as a result of El Salvador's absolute prohibition on abortion, women are being punished for apparent miscarriages and other obstetric emergencies, accused and convicted of having induced termination of pregnancy," he said.
Since 1997, the Central American country has had one of the most severe laws targeting women and people who assist with abortions. The local Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion puts at 27 cases in which exclusively poor women have been sentenced to jail terms of six to 35 years.
"I am appalled that as a result of El Salvador's absolute prohibition on abortion, women are being punished for apparent miscarriages and other obstetric emergencies, accused and convicted of having induced termination of pregnancy," he said.
Since 1997, the Central American country has had one of the most severe laws targeting women and people who assist with abortions. The local Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion puts at 27 cases in which exclusively poor women have been sentenced to jail terms of six to 35 years.
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