CBSN Originals Season 5 Episode 10 Jailed for Abortion in El Salvador

Jailed for Abortion in El Salvador is the 10th episode of season 5 of CBSN Originals. In this episode, reporters travel to El Salvador, a country with one of the strictest abortion laws in the world, to investigate the impact of those laws on Salvadoran women. In El Salvador, abortion is illegal under all circumstances and women who undergo abortions can be charged with aggravated homicide, which carries a prison sentence of 30 to 50 years.

Through interviews with women who have been imprisoned for abortion, as well as with activists, lawyers, and doctors, the episode explores the devastating effects of the criminalization of abortion on the lives of Salvadoran women. Viewers are introduced to Ingrid, a woman who was sentenced to 30 years in prison after suffering a miscarriage; Sara, who spent nearly a decade in prison after a stillbirth; and Evelyn, a woman who is currently serving a 30-year sentence for abortion.

The reporters also highlight the role of the Catholic Church and conservative politicians in creating and enforcing the strict abortion laws in El Salvador. They speak with religious leaders and politicians who defend the country's ban on abortion, arguing that it protects the sanctity of life. However, the episode also shows how the criminalization of abortion puts the lives of women in danger as many are forced to turn to unsafe, clandestine procedures.

Overall, Jailed for Abortion in El Salvador is a powerful and thought-provoking episode that sheds light on the human cost of restrictive abortion laws and the urgent need for change. The interviews with the women who have been jailed for abortion highlight the painful and unjust consequences of these laws, while the perspectives of activists and experts provide a broader understanding of the social and political implications of the issue. Through this episode, CBSN Originals invites viewers to engage with a pressing global issue that affects the lives of countless women around the world.