El Salvador congress upholds total abortion ban
El Salvador's congress has voted yet again to uphold the country's total ban on abortions
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.El Salvador’s congress voted yet again Wednesday to uphold the country’s total ban on abortions.
Women’s rights groups had petitioned congress to approve at least exceptions in the case of rape, risk to a woman’s health or life-threatening deformities. But the body voted 73 to 11 to maintain the current law.
Legislators said the country’s constitutional right-to-life article passed in 1998 made any changes impossible. Congress has been asked three times before to return to the pre-1998 exceptions, but has refused each time.
Populist President Nayib Bukele has backed the ban, which is among the harshest in the hemisphere, along with Nicaragua Bukele also opposes same-sex marriage.
There are currently 40 women serving prison sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years for convictions related to abortions.