In Paraguay, a 10 year old girl was being raped by her step-father. Her mother reported the abuse to authorities but was ignored. The child's stomach began to swell and the mother, thinking something was wrong took the child to the hospital and discovered the child was pregnant. The mother requested an abortion but was arrested for apparently being a bad parent and now the little girl is in the custody of the state authorities alone and being forced to carry the pregnancy to term.
Lilian Soto, a feminist activist at the Centro de Documentación y Estudios (Centre of Documentation and Studies), said the Paraguayan judicial system had failed the girl, unfairly punished the mother and put a minor’s life at risk because of religious dogma.
“When you consider the threat to life and the anatomical and psychological risks, the first step that should be taken in pregnancies of girls under the age of 13 should be an abortion. This is what the authorities fail to understand,” said Soto. “That girl is now alone … the Paraguayan state has a clear responsibility for that.”
She called on the authorities to establish an independent medical committee to evaluate the case free from the influence of religion.
Amnesty International is equating what the state is forcing upon this little girl with torture. The Catholic country's laws only allow abortion in cases where it is "life threatening". A 10 year old child having a baby is not life threatening?
I can only hope that the voices of sanity and decency will prevail and someone will rescue this abused child.
This case also made me think about what's been happening in this country lately.
As more and more restrictions are placed upon women's reproductive choices, I am reminded that this type of scenario could be something that happens here one day if we allow the anti-choice crowd to prevail. I think this is their true vision and ultimate goal.
The Guardian