Abortion in El Salvador
El Salvador maintains an absolute abortion ban under its 1998 Penal Code and 1999 constitutional reform, prohibiting abortion under all circumstances, including rape, health risks, or fatal fetal conditions, with no legal exceptions [1]. This total ban has led to criminal prosecutions, with women facing long prison sentences (2–50 years) even for obstetric emergencies such as miscarriages, reflecting severe legal and public health consequences [2]. A landmark 2024 ruling by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the Beatriz case condemned the state's failure to protect health and human rights despite life-threatening pregnancy complications [3].
Is abortion legal in El Salvador?
No. Abortion is completely banned in El Salvador under all circumstances, including cases of rape, incest, or risk to the pregnant person's life or health. El Salvador enforces one of the strictest abortion bans in the world. Since the enactment of its 1998 Penal Code and a 1999 constitutional amendment recognizing life from the moment of conception, abortion has been criminalized without exception.The law treats abortion-related offenses with the same severity as homicide, and those who seek or assist in obtaining one may face long prison sentences. Even sharing information about abortion is considered a criminal act. The country’s high rates of sexual violence, especially rape, make the total ban particularly harmful for women and girls, many of whom face forced pregnancies under threat of legal prosecution [2].
Abortion with pills in El Salvador
In-clinic abortion in El Salvador
Support and Resources in El Salvador
Who can I contact for more information about abortion in El Salvador?
Please contact the following organizations to access abortion services and information.
No local referral information is available for this profile
For further support, please contact our counseling team, they’re here to offer additional guidance. (https://safe2choose.org/es/abortion-counseling) We also recommend reaching out to local human rights organizations or feminist networks in your country or in nearby countries where abortion is legal.
Women On Web
International Organization, Abortion support and access to pills.