Evelyn was assaulted, impregnated, and jailed

A Woman's Baby Was Stillborn, and El Salvador's Government Charged Her With Homicide. Demand That They Change Their Laws!

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Dear friends, Evelyn Hernandez's story should inspire compassion. As a teenager living in El Salvador, she survived a terrifying assault — a gang member raped and impregnated her. She suffered from intense pain and emotional distress, and as a result, didn't realize she was pregnant. She found out when her stomach began to ache badly. She went to the bathroom, and ultimately gave birth into a toilet at her home. The child was found dead and Evelyn passed out. Then, as if her experiences weren't tragic enough, the government decided to make things worse. In El Salvador, abortion — and perceived abortion — is illegal under any and all circumstances, even in cases of rape and when the mother's life is at risk. In fact, the country is considered to have the world's most punitive and draconian anti-abortion laws. Prosecutors are convinced that Evelyn induced an abortion, and as a result, they've charged her with homicide for the death of her stillborn child. This is so obviously wrong and cruel. Sign the petition to speak out! Evelyn faced 30 years in a prison as punishment for her sexual assault and her stillborn baby. After having served three of those years, she was thankfully acquitted in a retrial. But the Salvadorian government just won't stop. They're actually trying to throw her in prison again. And Evelyn's not the only one. 147 women in the country are sitting in prison for up to 40 years for the same "crime." Another 19 women still face similar charges. El Salvador's laws don't just criminalize abortion; they criminalize both women's health and tragedies that we're unable to prevent. A United Nations Committee has even condemned El Salvador's harsh anti-abortion laws as a violation of human rights, and they couldn't be more correct. Evelyn has spent more than four years being victimized by first, her attacker and now, the justice system. Every part of this is messed up. Sign the petition to demand that the El Salvador government end its total ban on abortion! Thank you for all that you do,   Miranda B. The Care2 Petitions Team P.S. She was violently assaulted, impregnated, and then gave birth to a stillborn baby. But the Salvadorian government just sees her as a criminal. Stand with Evelyn and urge El Salvador to change its cruel, draconian anti-woman laws!