The day’s timeline, unfortunately, is filled with headlines that make me cringe and sad at the same time. Stories of rape and abuse, of how women are not safe in their own homes. But amidst all atrocities, another piece of ‘news’ has surfaced and I can bet human rights are ashamed today.
El Salvador is a country that arguably has the world’s most strict laws on reproductive rights and I say this because a teen, a rape survivor is going years behind the bars and the reason will leave you bewildered!
Evelyn Beatriz Hernandez Cruz, 19, has been sentenced 30 years of jail time because she gave birth to her rapist’s stillborn! She was convicted for failing to seek medical care that amounts to murder in El Salvador.
Evelyn was sentenced 30 yrs for an obstetric emergency today. This is Justice in #ElSalvador When will it end? #Las17 pic.twitter.com/AK4xLhfJkC
— Kristen Thompson (@herequeer) July 5, 2017
According to reports, Evelyn who had been repeatedly raped by a gang member over several months as a part of a forced sexual relationship, was unaware of her pregnancy until she gave birth in her school’s toilet in April 2016.
While the baby’s body was later found in the school toilet medical experts couldn’t figure if the foetus died in utero or in the moments after delivery. However, the prosecutor in the trial argued that she intentionally hurt the baby.
In fact, the female judge accepted the prosecutor’s claims that Evelyn failed to seek antenatal care because she did not want the baby and that is why she threw him into the toilet intending to kill him.
Condenan a 30 años a joven que dio a luz a un bebé cuyo cuerpo fue encontrado en una fosa sépticahttps://t.co/IHt1GmucS6 pic.twitter.com/7meYYUbldh
— ElSalvadorTIMES (@DiarioTIMES) July 6, 2017
“Sentenced to 30 years who gave birth to a baby whose body was found in a septic.”
That is not it. Reports also claim that the judge went to suggest suggested that she couldn’t have acted alone and that her mother may also be criminally responsible.
It goes without a saying that Evelyn’s cause has given birth to a whirlwind of mass protests and activism. Â
Evelyn, no estas solo las defensoras seguimos luchando por tu libertad. #JusticiaParaEvelyn #Las7 #ElSalvador pic.twitter.com/FPS2myOQZx
— Campaña #JusticiaParaLasMujeres (@Las17ElSalvador) March 8, 2017
“Evelyn, you are not the only defender, we are still fighting for your freedom.” #JusticiaParaEvelyn #Las7 #ElSalvador
Evelyn no estás sola : #JusticiaparaEvelyn @Unaflorporlas17 pic.twitter.com/OHJho7XT9M
— Sara Garcia Gross (@SaraVegana) July 7, 2017
“Evelyn you are not alone” @JusticiaparaEvelyn #Unaflorporlas17
Morena Herrera, Executive Director of the Citizen’s Group for the Decriminalisation of Abortion, said,
“The judgment sentencing Evelyn to 30 years in prison shows how in El Salvador justice is applied without direct proof, without sufficient evidence that clarifies what a woman has done.”
Statistics say, El Salvador which is one of five countries where abortion is illegal in all circumstances, has imprisoned dozens of poor young women for murder after they suffered complications in pregnancy and miscarriages.
While the world is fighting hard to empower women, the verdict in Evelyn’s case is a huge step backwards! HUGE.
News Source: The Guardian, IndependentÂ