SALVADOREAN authorities have released a woman who was jailed for attempted murder under the country’s harsh anti-abortion laws after she gave birth in a latrine last year.

Doctors accused Imelda Cortez, 20, of trying to perform an abortion after failing to tell anyone about the pregnancy or seek medical help.

Although the baby survived, prosecutors argued that this amounted to attempted murder which carries a potential 20-year jail term. 

Ms Cortez became pregnant by her stepfather after years of rape and sexual abuse and claimed that she was unaware she was pregnant when she gave birth.

El Salvador has some of the strictest abortion laws in the world with the struggle for abortion rights becoming a key battleground across Latin America.

Statistics reveal that 129 people have been convicted of abortion-related “crimes” in El Salvador since 2000, with 23 of those convictions being for receiving an illegal abortion and 26 for homicide.

Latin America and the Caribbean at the Centre for Reproductive Rights director Catalina Martinez warned: “Many women who suffer an obstetric emergency do not seek for medical assistance because they fear the will be imprisoned. Women do not trust the medical system to fulfil their care needs.” 

Defence lawyers argued that to avoid a lengthy sentence Ms Cortez had admitted to neglecting her baby which carries a one-year sentence. She had already spent 18 months behind bars before her hearing.

However the court found that she was not guilty of trying to kill her baby and set her free.

“This sentence represents hope for women who are still in prison and are also being tried for aggravated homicide,” defence lawyer Ana Martinez said.