11-Year-Old Chilean Rape Victim’s Health Is In Danger Because She Can’t Get An Abortion

[Judi Lynn]

11-Year-Old Chilean Rape Victim’s Health Is In Danger Because She Can’t Get An Abortion
By Tara Culp-Ressler on Jul 7, 2013 at 10:33 am

An 11-year-old Chilean girl who has become pregnant from rape is renewing a contentious debate over abortion in the conservative Catholic country, where the medical procedure is illegal under all circumstances. Doctors have warned that continuing the pregnancy will be dangerous for the 11-year-old’s health, as well as for the health of her fetus. But, under Chile’s total abortion ban, she is forced to continue it anyway.

The young girl is now 14 weeks pregnant. Her mother’s boyfriend has confessed to sexually abusing the child over the past two years, and is now in custody.

Abortion was legal in Chile under some medical circumstances until Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship instated a total ban in 1973. The current conservative administration has remained firmly opposed to loosening the harsh ban. According to the Santiago Times, Chile is now one of just six countries in the world — including Vatican City — with such stringent anti-abortion laws.

But now that the 11-year-old’s case has been made public, Chileans are beginning to push for change. Some opponents have started an online petition to demand legal abortion access in cases when the woman has been raped or when the woman’s health is at risk.

More:
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/07/07/2261731/chile-rape-victim-abortion/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Chile must provide 11-year-old pregnant rape victim with all options, including abortion

Chile must provide 11-year-old pregnant rape victim with all options, including abortion
11 July 2013

The Chilean State must provide an 11 year old girl who was raped by her stepfather and is now pregnant, with all the psychological and medical support she needs, and make available all the options regarding the pregnancy including safe abortion services, Amnesty International said today.

Chile is one of just a handful of countries around the world that criminalise abortion in all circumstances.

This means that girls who are pregnant as a consequence of rape, or where the pregnancy threatens their life or health, are compelled to continue their pregnancies regardless of the risks. The criminalization of abortion constitutes a breach of international human rights law.

The girl, known as Belen, was repeatedly raped by her 32 year old step-father. She is now 14 weeks pregnant.

“The Chilean state is responsible to provide her with every support necessary as she contends with the horrendous physical and psychological consequences of being raped and pregnant as a result. Her life, health, hopes and dreams are all in the hands of the authorities,” said Guadalupe Marengo, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

More:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/chile-must-provide-11-year-old-pregnant-rape-victim-all-options-including-abortion-2013-07-11