World's Worst Place To Have An Abortion - BBC Stories

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Published 2018-01-17

Ben Zand investigates the controversial case of Evelyn Hernandez, a Salvadoran teenager raped by a gang member and then jailed for 30 years for what her supporters say was a miscarriage. El Salvador has some of the harshest abortion laws in the world, with all forms of abortion being punished and cases of miscarriages and still births often being considered abortions. Women can be sentenced for up to 40 years for having one. In the case of Evelyn, her supporters say she has been wrongly imprisoned after having a miscarriage, with her opponents on the other side saying she killed her child. Ben speaks to the people who know the case best.

All Comments (21)

@marianamarino126 5 years ago

Jail for having a miscarriage?! No words can describe how disgusted I feel about that law. Its just wrong on so many levels.
@omrams5657 6 years ago

The guy is brave, telling a gang member that he is a psychopath lol wow the Balls he has..
@raginimishra1931 5 years ago

The doctor is a gem among those toxic men
@313angie1 4 years ago

You know the funny thing is the guy who admitted to killing multiple people is out free, while women who have had miscarriages are in jail?!?! Like make this make sense for me PLEASE!!!!
@morganfreeman4204 5 years ago

“Have you ever been pregnant” “No I’m a man” 😂
@lburns7952 4 years ago

I have never been so disgusted. Thirty years for having a miscarriage?? These people are certifiably insane. Especially the 'hardcore' anti-abortion politician. If he doesn't care about the possible fate of his own daughter, everyone else is screwed. Omigod, I can barely contain my rage. Ty for reporting this. Well done.
@EmilSosnin 6 years ago

What a toxic guy that Ricardo.
@Idaad01 6 years ago

But you cant control a miss carriage
@Missmethinksalot1 6 years ago

Always an experience to watch a Ben Zand documentary.
@gee_emm 4 years ago

Wow, a man actually has the nerve to suggest a woman cannot know she is pregnant? On what basis?!? Because this never happens?!? The level of arrogance and stupidity is astounding...
@sumedhasoman8401 6 years ago

This is so sad ... women and new born babies have no right to a normal life...
@Jc22ny 6 years ago

Its heartbreaking and sickening that such injustice is going on this day and age.
@MischievousMischief 5 years ago

I agree with the doctors view. Those fetuses are potential human beings, but his patiens are humans too. He gives them the priority! I hope he will help a lot of other women in need.
@hevenshin1296 5 years ago

If men can get pregnant, will the law change?
@AromaBlue 5 years ago

I was born into a communist regime that imposed very similar laws to increase the population. Women still had abortions but mostly the abortions were performed in awful conditions or using different concoctions. They did increase the population, but also the number of poor people and the number of awful orphanages since they were forcing women to have babies they didn't want or couldn't raise. I know older women traumatised by their awful experiences. Luckily I was 7 when the communists were overthrown.
@Amadeus-ms9lt 5 years ago

Principles are more important than most laws. Many laws actually miss the point and are misapplied.
@niallers8572 5 years ago

no pun intended but come on wtf talk about a miscarriage of justice
@echozhang7653 6 years ago

the words of the gang member are completely horrifying
@fakecupcake123 5 years ago

Ben's questioning of Ricardo was really good. Good question and catch
@cloudstone123 4 years ago

Just to update: She was acquitted in a retrial last year that the prosecutors are appealing.