THREE women jailed in El Salvador on murder charges after being accused of having abortions were freed from prison on Thursday after a court commuted their sentences.

They were jailed for 30 years on aggravated homicide charges however the court found that the women were “victims of social and economic circumstances” and ruled that the original sentences were unreasonable.

Alba Rodriguez and Marra del Transito Orellana both served nine years of their sentence while Cinthia Rodriguez had spent more than 11 years behind bars.

El Salvador has some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world and has been described as “the most dangerous country in the world to be a woman.”

Terminations were banned in all cases in 1998 with women facing jail sentences of up to 40 years if they are found guilty of aggravated homicide.

Those from poorer communities are disproportionately hit by the draconian laws with limited access to healthcare and inability to pay for costly defence lawyers.

Alba said: “We hope the government will recognise that a lot of women in here are innocent and, God willing, they will be freed.”

Cinthia explained that she had a miscarriage when she was arrested in 2008 and had no medical insurance so was unable to seek treatment.

“Justice is slow,” she told reporters gathered outside the prison in the capital San Sebastian. “Keep fighting for the 18 who remain inside.”

The three women are members of “Las 17,” a group of women imprisoned for abortion identified by activists in 2013 who are campaigning for their release.

Teodora del Carmen Vasquez, who was freed when her 30-year sentence was quashed last month after spending 10 years in prison, addressed supporters outside the prison.

“Our responsibility as women who have been released is to stand up and demand that the Salvadoran state release all the women,” she said.