Maira Verónica Figueroa Marroquín, a 34-year-old woman who spent 15 years in prison after suffering a stillbirth, was released from prison on Tuesday following the reduction of her 30-year sentence for “aggravated homicide” under El Salvador’s total abortion ban. In response to her release, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, said:
“While it’s a huge relief that Maira Verónica Figueroa Marroquín’s sentence was reduced and she has now been released, the real story here remains a tragedy. The fact that Maira has spent 15 years behind bars and had almost half of her life taken from her is a harrowing illustration of everything that is wrong with the justice system in El Salvador.
“El Salvador’s total abortion ban is causing pain and suffering to countless women and girls and their families and clearly violates their human rights. El Salvador must decriminalize abortion without delay, and immediately and unconditionally release all women and girls imprisoned for having had an abortion or having suffered obstetric emergencies.”
For more information or to organize an interview, please contact: Elizabeth Berton-Hunter, Media Relations 416-363-9933 ext 332 or bberton-hunter@amnesty.ca
Read more:
El Salvador: Release of woman jailed for stillbirth must signal end of total abortion ban (News, 15 February 2018)
El Salvador: Release of woman jailed for stillbirth must signal end of total abortion ban
El Salvador: Rape survivor sentenced to 30 years in jail under extreme anti-abortion law (News, 6 July 2017)
El Salvador: Rape survivor sentenced to 30 years in jail under extreme anti-abortion law
El Salvador: Release of woman jailed after miscarriage, a victory for human rights (News, 20 May 2016)
El Salvador: Release of woman jailed after miscarriage, a victory for human rights
