No Girl Should be Forced into Motherhood After Rape

Norma* (*indicates a pseudonym) was 12 when her father began raping her. She became pregnant shortly thereafter. Though abortion is legal in Ecuador when a woman or girl’s life or health is in danger, no one told her this. She gave birth despite not wanting the baby. Fatima* was also 12 when she became pregnant after being raped by a man in her community in Guatemala. Abortion is only legal in Guatemala to save a woman or girl’s life. Though the pregnancy was risky because of Fatima’s young age, health providers never offered her a legal abortion, and she carried the pregnancy to term. Two other…

© Human Rights Watch - jeudi 30 mai 2019