Release the 17 Women Imprisoned for Pregnancy Complications

The Issue

Currently El Salvador has one of the strictest abortion laws and abortion is considered a crime even if a woman’s life is at risk. As a result of this harsh law, 17 women are currently being unjustly incarcerated and are facing sentences of up to 40 years in prison in El Salvador due to obstetric complications. 

Please support these women in regaining their freedom and in returning to their families to rebuild their lives by sending a letter to the pertinent authorities.

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The Issue

Currently El Salvador has one of the strictest abortion laws and abortion is considered a crime even if a woman’s life is at risk. As a result of this harsh law, 17 women are currently being unjustly incarcerated and are facing sentences of up to 40 years in prison in El Salvador due to obstetric complications. 

Please support these women in regaining their freedom and in returning to their families to rebuild their lives by sending a letter to the pertinent authorities.

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The Decision Makers

Por Las 17
Por Las 17
Responded
“Estas mujeres son victimas de un sistema de aplicación de justicia que condena sin pruebas directas, con informes forenses incompletos y de baja calidad, que no garantizan su fiabilidad, por lo que los jueces confunden los problemas obstétricos generados por un parto adelantado extrahospitalario con un delito. Sus prejuicios contra las mujeres, su falta de conocimientos sobre el fondo de los problemas vividos por estas mujeres y la superficialidad en el seguimiento al proceso, no les impide aplicar condenas desproporcionadas de hasta 40 años de cárcel. El mayor delito de estas mujeres es que eran pobres, de bajos recursos y carecieron de una defensa adecuada.”
Darío Alejandro Chica Argueta
Darío Alejandro Chica Argueta
Secretary
El Salvador Legislative Assembly's Commission for Justice and Human Rights
El Salvador Legislative Assembly's Commission for Justice and Human Rights
President Ernesto Antonio Angulo Milla
Audelia Guadalupe López
Audelia Guadalupe López
Member
Sandra Salgado Marlene García
Sandra Salgado Marlene García
Rapporteur

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Petition created on June 10, 2014