Dear friends,
A 10-year-old girl in Paraguay was reportedly sexually abused by her stepfather for years. She appealed to the authorities for help but they did nothing to protect her. Now pregnant and being forced to have the baby, she needs our help.
Every day in Paraguay, two girls between the ages of 10 and 14, give birth to children conceived as a result of rape. It’s an epidemic. The law could give access to abortion in these cases but government officials refuse to allow it. Now the tragic case of this 10-year-old girl has dropped a global media bombshell that is forcing them to reconsider.
On Tuesday, Congress will review this law and open up discussion to citizens. This is the chance to change everything for this 10-year-old and ensure that no young girl has to fight this battle again. Click to join the campaign -- we'll deliver our voices directly on to the floor of Congress, demanding that the law be applied to this girl and children like her, who most need to have a choice.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/paraguays_choice_loc/?bOUfzbb&v=58529
Article 109 of the Penal Code allows for the termination of pregnancy where it puts the life of the mother in danger. The Paraguayan Health Minister has refused to apply this law to children, even though the World Health Organisation clearly categorises child pregnancies as dangerous and potentially life threatening . Girls under 15 are 5 times more likely to die of birth complications than older teens and women. It’s a sobering statistic and it should allow for this 10-year-old and other young girls to receive relief.
The UN slammed the government’s failure saying that Paraguay’s denial of an abortion “results in grave violations of the rights to life, to health and to the physical and mental integrity of the girl”. It never should have come to this. The 10-year-old girl -- so small that even pregnant, she weighs just 34 kg -- sought help from her stepfather’s abuse, reporting it in January of 2014. The government did nothing and she was forced to continue living with him.
This girl didn’t have a choice in being attacked by her stepfather. She didn’t have a choice about living day in and out with her rapist. She didn’t have a choice in getting pregnant. But if the government applies the law, she should have a choice over what happens next with her own body. And at this stage, that is the least of what should be done for her.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/paraguays_choice_loc/?bOUfzbb&v=58529
A 10-year-old girl in Paraguay was reportedly sexually abused by her stepfather for years. She appealed to the authorities for help but they did nothing to protect her. Now pregnant and being forced to have the baby, she needs our help.
Every day in Paraguay, two girls between the ages of 10 and 14, give birth to children conceived as a result of rape. It’s an epidemic. The law could give access to abortion in these cases but government officials refuse to allow it. Now the tragic case of this 10-year-old girl has dropped a global media bombshell that is forcing them to reconsider.
On Tuesday, Congress will review this law and open up discussion to citizens. This is the chance to change everything for this 10-year-old and ensure that no young girl has to fight this battle again. Click to join the campaign -- we'll deliver our voices directly on to the floor of Congress, demanding that the law be applied to this girl and children like her, who most need to have a choice.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/paraguays_choice_loc/?bOUfzbb&v=58529
Article 109 of the Penal Code allows for the termination of pregnancy where it puts the life of the mother in danger. The Paraguayan Health Minister has refused to apply this law to children, even though the World Health Organisation clearly categorises child pregnancies as dangerous and potentially life threatening . Girls under 15 are 5 times more likely to die of birth complications than older teens and women. It’s a sobering statistic and it should allow for this 10-year-old and other young girls to receive relief.
The UN slammed the government’s failure saying that Paraguay’s denial of an abortion “results in grave violations of the rights to life, to health and to the physical and mental integrity of the girl”. It never should have come to this. The 10-year-old girl -- so small that even pregnant, she weighs just 34 kg -- sought help from her stepfather’s abuse, reporting it in January of 2014. The government did nothing and she was forced to continue living with him.
This girl didn’t have a choice in being attacked by her stepfather. She didn’t have a choice about living day in and out with her rapist. She didn’t have a choice in getting pregnant. But if the government applies the law, she should have a choice over what happens next with her own body. And at this stage, that is the least of what should be done for her.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/paraguays_choice_loc/?bOUfzbb&v=58529
This awful situation is undeniably heartbreaking. But our voices
together represent hope that things can be different both for this girl
and for the thousands like her. Let's join together now to turn this
tragedy into change for a better future.
With hope and determination,
Dalia, Oli, Danny, Emily, Ana Sofia, Oscar, and the rest of the Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Paraguay rebuked over pregnant child rape victim (BBC)http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-32698371
The horrific child rape case that is tearing Paraguay apart (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/11/the-horrific-child-rape-case-that-is-tearing-paraguay-apart/
Paraguay senator says pregnant 10-year-old denied abortion 'became a uterus' (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/may/10/paraguay-pregnant-10-year-old-abortion-senator
Man arrested in Paraguay over alleged rape of stepdaughter whose case prompted abortion debate (ABC)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-10/paraguayan-man-arrested-over-rape-of-stepdaughter/6458352
Paraguay: UN experts deplore Government’s failure to protect 10-year-old rape survivor (UN News Centre)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50826
With hope and determination,
Dalia, Oli, Danny, Emily, Ana Sofia, Oscar, and the rest of the Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Paraguay rebuked over pregnant child rape victim (BBC)http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-32698371
The horrific child rape case that is tearing Paraguay apart (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/11/the-horrific-child-rape-case-that-is-tearing-paraguay-apart/
Paraguay senator says pregnant 10-year-old denied abortion 'became a uterus' (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/may/10/paraguay-pregnant-10-year-old-abortion-senator
Man arrested in Paraguay over alleged rape of stepdaughter whose case prompted abortion debate (ABC)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-10/paraguayan-man-arrested-over-rape-of-stepdaughter/6458352
Paraguay: UN experts deplore Government’s failure to protect 10-year-old rape survivor (UN News Centre)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50826
