ASUNCION, (Reuters) – An 11-year-old rape victim gave birth in Paraguay yesterday after being denied termination of her pregnancy by doctors and judicial officials, stoking the debate over abortion in the overwhelmingly Catholic country.
The former partner of the girl’s mother is accused of the rape. In Parguay, two girls aged 10 to 14 give birth every day. The cases are often linked to sexual violence.
Thursday’s birth came by way of a programmed cesarean section, Dr. Mario Villalba, director of the Red Cross hospital where the operation took place, told local radio
“A baby girl, weighing 3.5 kilos (7.7 pounds), was born without any complications or anomalies,” Villalba said. “The post-operative recovery is going very well.”
Paraguayan law permits abortion if a mother’s life is endangered. In this instance, a panel including medical doctors, psychologists and judicial officials determined that the life of the girl was not at risk.
