Women’s human rights activists gather in El Salvador to demand Beatriz is granted the life-saving treatment she needs (Photo Credit: Amnesty International).
Beatriz’s life is literally in the hands of the Salvadoran government. Demand that they immediately grant her the life-saving medical treatment she needs – before it’s too late.
About Beatriz’s Case
As you may have read recently on this blog, Beatriz from El Salvador is 4.5 months pregnant and suffers from lupus and other medical conditions, including kidney disease related to lupus. She also suffered serious complications during her previous pregnancy, resulting in her being deemed at high-risk of maternal mortality should this pregnancy progress. Three scans of her fetus have confirmed it is anencephalic (lacking a large part of the brain and skull). Almost all babies with anencephaly die before birth or within a few hours or days after.
Beatriz wants to live, and at the advice of medical professionals, has requested a therapeutic abortion through her doctors. Because abortion under all circumstances is criminalized in El Salvador, she has had to file a request with the Supreme Court to obtain permission for such treatment. Her request has been with the Supreme Court since it was admitted on April 17. The Supreme Court over the weekend ordered psychological and physical evaluations of Beatriz, suggesting she may not be mentally stable enough to request a therapeutic abortion – despite the fact that the El Salvadorian Minister of Health has publicly affirmed that Beatriz may die should she continue with her pregnancy, and that the fetus she is carrying is not viable.
The Health Ministry’s legal advisor also explicitly urged the court to resolve the case quickly before her condition worsens and called on the Salvadorian legislature to revisit the law criminalizing abortion under all circumstances.
The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights has recently gotten involved, requesting on April 23 the El Salvadorian government provide information within 72 hours on Beatriz’s case.
But the Salvadoran authorities are dragging their feet, and every day they debate the merits of Beatriz’s case, she’s suffering cruel and inhuman treatment. This physical suffering is further compounded by the emotional stress of not knowing whether she will live to see her one-year old son grow up. The continued denial of access to the medical treatment that she needs to survive is in violation of El Salvador’s international human rights obligations and access must be immediately granted.
Women’s sexual and reproductive rights are under siege in the Americas
Sexual and reproductive rights are grounded in human rights that are recognized in international human rights treaties, regional standards, national constitutions and other relevant human rights standards. The realization of sexual and reproductive rights requires respect for rights relating to physical and mental integrity, including the rights to life, to liberty and security of person; to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; to privacy and respect for family life as well as rights related to freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination.
Violations of the sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls are still common throughout the Americas. Unsafe abortions and limited access to contraception service to information about sexual and reproductive health are affecting a number of women and girls. In addition to El Salvador, Chile and Nicaragua ban abortion under all circumstances.
This means that even in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s health or life is in danger, any woman attempting to obtain an abortion – as well as the individuals assisting her in obtaining one – are subject to lengthy jail time and other criminal penalties. This total abortion ban is in contradiction international human rights standards.
Your actions could help save Beatriz’s life
There’s still time to save Beatriz’s life and for the Salvadoran authorities to comply with their international human rights obligations. You can help by taking action right here to call on the government of El Salvador to grant Beatriz the life-saving medical treatment she so desperately needs.
We will continue to post updates on the case, so please take action, stay tuned and share this information out widely.
Could this woman be medically evacuated to another country where she could receive appropriate care? If anyone knows of a fund set up to do this, I'd be glad to contribute.
Even if she can be evacuated, it doesn't excuse the case – and the suffering of countless women and girls, who for centuries have endured physical and sexual mistreatment at the hands of an innately macho patriarchal culture. Beatriz case is just violence against women by proxy.. Violence by silence.. As the authorities try to pass the buck. That's got to be challenged, and everyone get right behind Beatriz in this desperate and cruel situation. I've had a couple of Hispanic friends over the years, now relatively safely esconsed with Uncle Sam.. The stories they have to tell….
Amensty international or nation organization working on human rights should file an appeal in the UN internation courts of law.Advacacy on media to get help is also required. We need to plan an international compaign through NGOs and INGOs at the earliest
I think abortion should be legal and available to every girl or woman because sometimes a pregnancy can be harmful to mothers. I think beatriz should be able to get an abortion because nobody deserves to die at this age and for this reason. But I still wonder what the hell was going on in her mind when she did not use protection.
Yes, You are right Winona. I freely agree with you. Abortion should be legal and available to every girl or woman. If you are not able to take baby's responsibility, You should be free to do abortion, at the initial stage.
Abortion needs to be an option for women everywhere! You'd think that people would know by now that sex is natural and healthy after a certain age, and it's definitely normal and recommended at 22!
Thanks for sharing this post. After reading this article, I gain dome knowledge and gathered some valuable information's about abortion. Abortion is really very needs to be an option for women. If you are not able to take the responsibility, then you should to do abortion.
Great peace of work done by admin here. Thanks for your hard work with us.
Thanks for that great info! And I think the same, abortion needs to be an option, such an another countries.
There are many girls like them which have been facing the same problem from a very long time. I hope one day women will be able to live their life with peace in every community.