In strict Catholic El Salvador, a woman who suffered a medical emergency after the birth of her child has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the death of the newborn. The organization Acdatee, which campaigns for the right to abortion, said Monday that it is the first time in the history of the Central American country that a woman has been sentenced to the maximum sentence in such a case for “grievous manslaughter.”
The 23-year-old, who lives in poverty in a farming family, gave birth to her child in a latrine in June 2020 after the sudden onset of labour. “I felt something come out of me, it was dark and I couldn’t see what I was radiating,” she later said, according to Acdatee.
The young woman panicked and had to go to a hospital, where she received three blood transfusions. According to the prosecutor, the newborn died a few hours after birth. The gestation period was between 37 and 40 weeks.
Up to eight years in prison for abortion
According to Acdatee, the court justified the verdict with the sentence: “Mothers are a source of protection for their children under all circumstances, and they were not.” In the extremely conservative and strict Catholic El Salvador, abortion is prohibited in all cases. A woman can be sentenced to eight years in prison for having an abortion.
“Serious manslaughter”: maximum penalty imposed for the first time
Judges sentence women charged with abortion or accidental stillbirth, but consistently charge with “aggravated manslaughter”. There is a maximum sentence of 50 years. According to Acdatee, the maximum sentence has now been imposed on a woman for the first time after such a conviction. The organization announced that it would appeal the ruling.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
