Jailed for suffering a stillbirth. Free Teodora.
A stillbirth is a tragedy. Not a crime.
Teodora Del Carmen Vasquez suffered a still-birth in 2007, after the rapid onset of pain while she was at work. Police arrested her as she lay in a pool of blood.
She was later sentenced to 30 years in prison for 'aggravated homicide', presumed guilty of 'abortion', which is illegal in all circumstances in El Salvador, rather than the victim of pregnancy complications. In El Salvador, women who miscarry or suffer a still-birth during pregnancy are routinely suspected of having had an 'abortion'. This makes women afraid to seek help with pregnancy-related problems, leading inevitably to more preventable deaths.
As in all similar cases in El Salvador, she was presumed guilty and, being from a poor family, could not afford an effective legal team to represent her.
Call on El Salvador's Minister of Justice to release Teodora immediately.
Dear Minister,
I am very concerned for Teodora del Carmen Vásquez, who is currently serving a 30 year prison sentence for aggravated homicide, after suffering a still-birth at work. She was presumed guilty of having an "abortion" rather than the potential victim of pregnancy complications.
I call on you to take action to ensure Teodora del Carmen Vásquez is immediately released.
I also call on you to release all other women incarcerated for pregnancy-related complications who have exhausted other legal remedies.
[Your comments here]
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
