Illegal Abortions Rampant in Latin America By Jen Ross

Five thousand women die from clandestine abortions every year in Latin America. It has one of the highest abortion rates in the world, despite its near-universal illegality. …

Abortion is prohibited across most of Latin America. Cuba and Puerto Rico are the exceptions. While some countries allow abortion in cases of rape or danger to the mother’s life, there are no exceptions in Chile, Colombia and El Salvador. These countries prosecute hundreds of women for having abortions. …

“The political elite, or the people who have money, happen to have access to abortions under optimal conditions, a doctor, a clinic, anesthesia . . . or they can even go to Miami to a clinic, so it’s not an issue for them. Poor women risk their lives.”