UN Experts Urge Review of Sentences Imposed for Violations of Reproductive Health Laws (January 28, 2015) [1]
On January 28, 2015, UN human rights experts released a statement [3] welcoming El Salvador’s decision to pardon a woman convicted of aggravated homicide after she suffered a miscarriage. The experts noted that the decision “must mark a turning point for the authorities to review the sentences against all women jailed for pregnancy-related complications.” Noting that the country had “one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world,” the experts urged El Salvador to “comply with its international obligations and ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including maternal health care and access to all methods of modern contraception.” The experts added that “access to safe and legal abortion, at least when the pregnancy endangers the life or health of the woman; when it is the result of rape or incest, or in cases of severe fetal malformation must be ensured” and noted their communication to the El Salvadorian government that their laws violate “the right of women to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”