Jailed for 30 Years in El Salvador after a Stillbirth - Tell El Salvador's Minister of Justice to Free Teodora

Teodora suffered a stillbirth in 2007 after the rapid onset of serious pain while she was at work. Police arrested her as she lay in a pool of blood. She was later sentenced to 30 years for 'aggravated homicide.'

Why? Because abortion is illegal under all circumstances in El Salvador—even in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the woman's life. Women with pregnancy complications such as stillbirths may be accused of having an abortion, convicted of 'aggravated homicide,' and receive a lengthy prison sentence.

Stereotypes around women's primary role as mothers and attitudes towards pre-marital sex are reasons why El Salvador has one of the world's most restrictive prohibitions on abortion, little sex education, and high cost contraception. This is gender discrimination and a clear violation of the rights of women and girls to decide whether, when and how to create a family, and a violation of the right to be able to access family planning, maternal healthcare, and safe and legal abortion services.

Gender discrimination in El Salvador creates laws that, when applied, serve only to further discriminate against women like Teodora. Teodora's only 'crime' is being a woman in El Salvador, a woman who experienced a terrible pregnancy complication.

Urge El Salvador's Minister of Justice to release Teodora immediately.
Dear Minister of Justice,

Teodora del Carmen Vásquez is currently serving a 30 year prison sentence for aggravated homicide, after suffering a stillbirth at work. She was presumed guilty of having an “abortion” rather than the potential victim of pregnancy complications.

Teodora's trial was flawed and lacking in due process. She was presumed guilty and, being from a poor family, could not afford an effective legal team to represent her.

Minister, I call on you to:

- Take action to ensure Teodora del Carmen Vásquez is immediately released.

- Take action to release all other women incarcerated for pregnancy-related complications who have exhausted other legal remedies.

Teodora has already spent over eight years in jail. She is now applying for her sentence to be commuted. Her last hope is in your hands.

[Your comments here]

Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
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