Demand an end to El Salvador's abortion ban

Act Now In El Salvador, it doesn't matter if a woman is pregnant as a result of rape or whether the pregnancy is a risk to the mother's life. Abortion is banned in all cases. Miscarriages can result in up to 50 years imprisonment for "homicide" or "aggravated homicide." Maria Teresa Rivera was sentenced to 40 years in prison after she had a miscarriage. Tell Salvadoran authorities to end the abortion ban now. Dear Tracy, Three years ago, Maria Teresa Rivera was a 28-year-old mother working in a garment factory in El Salvador. She was unaware that she was pregnant with another child, until her mother-in-law found her bleeding on the floor after she had gone to use the bathroom. Maria Teresa was rushed to the hospital, where a staff member reported her to the local police. The staff suspected Maria had deliberately ended her pregnancy. She was charged with aggravated homicide and sentenced to 40 years in prison. Urge Salvadoran authorities to end the total abortion ban. In El Salvador, it doesn't matter if a woman is pregnant as a result of rape, or whether the pregnancy is a risk to the mother's life or health. Abortion is banned in all cases. Miscarriages can result in up to 50 years imprisonment for "homicide" or "aggravated homicide". The combination of difficulty accessing contraception, high levels of violence — including rape — against women, and a lack of comprehensive sexuality education has resulted in El Salvador has the highest teen pregnancy rate in Latin America. Devastatingly, suicide accounts for 57 percent of the deaths of pregnant females aged 10 to 19 — but this number is thought to be much higher when taking into account many unreported cases. The degree of pain and suffering caused by El Salvador's abortion ban is so severe that it constitutes torture. Tell the Salvadoran government enough is enough: stand up for the women and girls of El Salvador. In solidarity, Jasmine Heiss Senior Campaigner Amnesty International USA