Historic Human Rights Court Ruling Condemns El Salvador's Total Abortion Ban

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights found El Salvador violated a woman's rights by denying her an abortion despite life-threatening health risks and an unviable fetus.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that El Salvador violated the rights of Beatriz, a woman denied an abortion in 2013 despite severe health risks and a non-viable pregnancy.
The ruling held El Salvador responsible for obstetric violence, health violations, and failing to provide timely medical care due to its total abortion ban.
The court ordered El Salvador to pay compensation to Beatriz's family and establish legal and medical protocols for high-risk pregnancies to prevent similar cases in the future.
Beatriz, who suffered from lupus and other serious health conditions, was forced to carry her pregnancy to term; the fetus died hours after delivery, and she passed away in 2017 after unrelated health complications.
Activists view the decision as a landmark moment for reproductive rights in Latin America, where several countries still enforce total abortion bans.