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| Evelyn Beatriz. Photo: Getty Image |
A teenager who survived rape before giving birth to a stillborn
baby in a bathroom has been jailed for 30 years.
baby in a bathroom has been jailed for 30 years.
The 19-year-old was locked up in El Salvador because her
child died during her pregnancy.
child died during her pregnancy.
Evelyn Beatriz Hernandez Cruz has been sentenced for “aggravated
homicide.”
homicide.”
The ruling is part of staunchly conservative laws on
abortion held by the Central American state.
abortion held by the Central American state.
Ms Cruz was reportedly raped during her pregnancy and only
found out she was pregnant after collapsing in a bathroom, Metro reported.
found out she was pregnant after collapsing in a bathroom, Metro reported.
She claimed to have been repeatedly raped by a gang member
over months when she was 18.
over months when she was 18.
When authorities found the fetus in April 2016, she was
charged because she had not sought prenatal care, authorities said.
charged because she had not sought prenatal care, authorities said.
The law, which was brought in 1998, criminalises all forms
of abortion and some women can be jailed for 40 years.
of abortion and some women can be jailed for 40 years.
UN officials have already pleaded with lawmakers to overturn
the strict rules.
the strict rules.
Amnesty’s Americas Director Erika Guevara-Rosas said the law
is ‘causing nothing but pain and suffering to countless women and girls and
their families.”
is ‘causing nothing but pain and suffering to countless women and girls and
their families.”
She added: “It goes against human rights and it has no place
in the country or anywhere.”
in the country or anywhere.”
However, the judge believed the state prosecutor who claimed
Ms Cruz had thrown the fetus into a toilet bowl after giving birth.
Ms Cruz had thrown the fetus into a toilet bowl after giving birth.
The mother was also accused by the judge of involvement
according to the Guardian.
according to the Guardian.
Reform of the law is currently in a committee stage of the
federal legislature and there is no certainty there will be a vote.
federal legislature and there is no certainty there will be a vote.
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