Salvadoran woman, jailed after miscarriage, is freed

In June of 2011, Elsy, a domestic worker in El Salvador, reported an obstetric emergency that resulted in a miscarriage, according to a local human rights group.

It also resulted in her being charged with aggravated manslaughter, the organization said, and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

But this week, the group reported that Elsy, after a decade in prison, was released – her case having grabbed headlines well past the borders of El Salvador, where abortion is illegal, including in cases of rape, incest and when a woman’s health in danger.

El Salvador’s Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion said her original court case was full of irregularities and proceeded without the presumption of innocence.

In footage released by the group, Elsy – whose last name was withheld – was asked what gave her the strength to fight for her freedom.

“My son and my parents. I've been working a lot every day over these years. Sometimes also on the weekends because I knew that I could reduce my sentence and I'd been working until the final day I was in prison."

Salvadoran authorities did not respond to a request for comment or confirm the release, and Reuters was unable to independently verify the details of the case.

Over the last 20 years El Salvador has criminally prosecuted some 181 women who suffered obstetric emergencies. Since 2009, 61 of them have been released, according to the organization.

Last December, as part of a campaign called "Free the 17," celebrities including America Ferrera, Milla Jovovich and Kathryn Hahn called on Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to free 17 women who were imprisoned after suffering miscarriages and other obstetric emergencies. Since then, 5 have been freed, the human rights group said. It also shared Elsy’s gratitude.

"Thank you. Thank you to those who were fighting every day and for continuing to fight for other women…."

But others have suffered a more tragic fate.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in November that El Salvador had violated the rights of a woman identified as Manuela who was sent to prison for breaking abortion laws and died while serving her 30-year sentence.