Activists face backlash in landmark abortion case in El Salvador

In 2013, in El Salvador, a woman named Beatriz was denied an abortion despite her critical health condition and the fact that her fetus was not expected to survive outside the womb. Her situation compelled human rights organizations, such as the Citizens’ Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Abortion, to advocate for her case to bring attention to the widespread issues surrounding reproductive rights in the country. Beatriz's story caught the attention of the inter-American commission of human rights, which took her case to the inter-American court of human rights in Costa Rica in 2022. Over the years, activists like Morena Herrera have faced aggressive disinformation campaigns linked to US conservative groups that label them as enemies of the state and promote false narratives about them. These campaigns serve to discredit the push for decriminalizing abortion in El Salvador. The environment for women's rights advocates has become increasingly dangerous, with reports of cyber-attacks and hate speech intensifying, especially during significant cases, such as the 2021 ruling in favor of Manuela, another woman wrongfully imprisoned for alleged abortion following a miscarriage. The political climate in El Salvador, characterized by a state of emergency due to gang violence instituted by President Nayib Bukele, poses additional threats to human rights activists. This state of emergency has facilitated arbitrary detentions and increased risks of mistreatment or worse for those speaking out against the government’s stance on women's rights. Despite these challenges, activists remain committed to obtaining justice for Beatriz and fighting for the decriminalization of abortion in their country, seeking to establish a precedent that could impact reproductive rights across Latin America. The culmination of Beatriz's case at the inter-American court of human rights represents a significant turning point in the legal landscape concerning women's reproductive rights in El Salvador. The outcome is awaited anxiously by both supporters and opponents, as it could pave the way for systemic changes in a country notorious for its strict abortion laws and the criminalization of women experiencing obstetrical emergencies.