In El Salvador, the abortion law is so strict just having a miscarriage can land a woman in jail.

The Central American country has some of the toughest anti-abortion laws in the world.  Since 1998 any pregnant woman who loses her unborn child can be accused of homicide.

Abortion is banned under any circumstance in the country and women are petrified of having a problematic pregnancy.

The controversy surrounding the law has been revived by the recent case of Evelyn Hernandez, sitting in jail for the death of her unborn child.   

Evelyn’s case and those of sixteen other women facing similar charges are currently under appeal. But few expect changes to come anytime soon to the country’s uncompromising abortion law. El Salvador is only one of three countries in the world that criminalizes abortion without exception.

 

Correspondent Harris Whitbeck has more from San Salvador.