Page 12 - ARUBA TRAVELLER 15AUG,2015
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11-year-old
RAPE VICTIM
gives birth in
Paraguay
AN 11-year-old girl, who according to authorities “I was the one who reported all of this, asking for Antonio Barrios said that, even in this case, an
was raped by her stepfather, gave birth to a healthy justice to be done and hoping that something would abortion would be a violation of Paraguayan law.
baby girl Thursday morning in Asunción, Paraguay. be done, but prosecutors dismissed the case,” she “We’re totally against interrupting the pregnancy,”
The baby was born by C-section and weighed 3 said. “Otherwise, this would have never gotten to this Barrios said in May. “The girl is getting assistance
kilograms (about 6.6 pounds). Villalba said both the point,” the unidentified mother said. permanently in a shelter and the pregnancy is
baby and her mother “are in good health condition.” Paraguayan Health Minister Antonio Barrios said that progressing normally without a problem.” There
He also said doctors are monitoring them closely. neighbors were the ones who had reported the abuse, was no comment from the Paraguayan government
They are expected to be released within three days if and that the mother had denied accusations against Thursday regarding the birth.
no complications arise. her husband. Erika Guevara, Amnesty’s Americas director, said
The case shocked Paraguayans when it came to light The pregnancy was discovered in late April when the Thursday that the fact that the girl did not die “does
in May. At the time the girl was 10 years old and 22 mother took her daughter to the hospital after the girl not excuse the human rights violations she suffered
weeks pregnant. Authorities immediately arrested complained of abdominal pain. at the hands of the Paraguayan authorities, who
the girl’s mother. The woman, who according to The mother wanted the girl to have an abortion. decided to gamble with her health, life and integrity
reports is 32 years old, was charged with child neglect Human rights groups, especially Amnesty despite overwhelming evidence that this pregnancy
and complicity. Paraguayan police also launched International, supported her position. was extremely risky and despite the fact that she was
a manhunt for the girl’s stepfather, identified as “The physical and psychological impact of forcing this a rape victim and a child.”
42-year-old Gilberto Benitez Zárate. Benitez was young girl to continue with an unwanted pregnancy is Paraguay has one of the strictest abortion laws in the
arrested shortly thereafter and charged with rape and tantamount to torture,” Guadalupe Marengo, Deputy world. It bans abortions except in cases where the
abuse of a child. He denied the charges and demanded Director for the Americas at Amnesty International pregnancy endangers the mother’s life. In the case of
a DNA test to back up his claim. said then. “The Paraguayan authorities cannot sit idly the 11-year-old, doctors ruled that, in spite of her age,
The girl’s mother was released on bond in June, but by while this young rape survivor is forced to endure the pregnancy did not endanger her life. Violation of
still faces charges. Once out of jail, she said she went more agony and torment.” the law carries a maximum sentence of five years in
to authorities asking for help in November 2013. But Paraguayan authorities refused. Health minister prison.
12 INTERNATIONAL Saturday, August 15 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER
