Amnesty International
On 21 April a 10-year-old girl arrived
with her mother at the Trinidad Maternity and Children’s Hospital
(Hospital Materno Infantil de Trinidad) in Asunción, the capital of
Paraguay, complaining of stomach ache. On examination, a 21-week
pregnancy was established. The girl’s pregnancy is the result of having
been raped by her stepfather.
The World
Health Organization (WHO) and health professionals around the world
agree that pregnancy poses specific risks to young girls whose bodies
are not fully developed and that the risk to their lives is greater.
Therefore all options regarding the pregnancy, including safe abortion
services, must be made available.
On 28 April
the girl’s mother submitted an administrative plea (carta
administrativa) to the hospital requesting an abortion for the girl.
Nothing indicates that the hospital is considering an abortion to save
her life. On the contrary, according to latest reports, the girl will be
sent to a center for young mothers (centro de niñas madres).
Click here for more information and addresses.
Other articles
- Paraguay: Save life of pregnant 10-year-old, Amnesty International Canada, April 29, 2015
- Pregnant 10-year-old 'denied abortion after being raped by stepfather, ITV Report, April 30, 2015
Paraguay: Life of a Pregnant 10-Year-Old Girl at Risk, Amnesty International USA, April 29, 2015
