El Salvador often makes international headlines for its total abortion ban, which is among the harshest in the world. The conservative country is aggressive in its prosecution of women. In 2013, the authorities charged 16 women and girls with the crime of abortion, which can carry a sentence of eight years in prison. Woman accused of inducing a miscarriage can even be charged with “aggravated assault against a family member,” that can land them in prison for up to 50 years.
They’re arresting women based on the way their pregnancies ended, providing hundreds of well-documented cases of women being imprisoned for the crime of seeking reproductive health care.
“People in the international community are often really surprised because on paper, the United States has abortion laws that adhere to human rights standards. But the question is about access and implementation.”
via Abortion Bans Are Putting Women Behind Bars | ThinkProgress.