Sad story of 10-year-old girl denied abortion after being raped by her stepfather

Paraguay:  A pregnant 10-year-old girl has been denied an abortion after being raped by her stepfather - despite the risk to her life posed by giving birth so young.

Access to a safe abortion has not been yet provided to the unnamed child despite the request of her mother.

The youngster was found to be pregnant after arriving at hospital with her mum earlier this month complaining of stomach pains.

On examination, a 21-week pregnancy was established. The girl’s pregnancy is the result of having been raped by her stepfather, reports Amnesty International.

The director of the hospital in Asunción, the capital of Paraguay has reportedly publicly acknowledged that the girl’s pregnancy was a risk to her health and life, despite her being in stable health condition.

The girl has since been readmitted to a different hospital, where her health is being monitored.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has agreed 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 this girl's pregnancy, including safe abortion services, must be made available.

On 28 April the girl’s mother requested an abortion for her.

Despite this she has reportedly been sent to a centre for young mothers.

In Paraguay, abortion is legal when the life of the woman or girl is at risk, therefore she is entitled to a lawful abortion.

According the Convention on the Rights of the Child the best interest of the child has to always be of primary consideration and states have an obligation under the Convention to ensure access to abortion in these circumstances.