10 Year Girl Who Was Raped By Stepfather Denied An Abortion

716605_630x354 — A 17-year-old who said she was raped by her stepfather attends a demonstration in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. Photo: Peter Prengaman

Via WSBTV:

A pregnant 10-year-old girl from Paraguay is the center of a heated debate after being denied an abortion by her home country, Boston’s WFXT reports.

The girl was reportedly raped by her stepfather and is now 22 weeks into her pregnancy, according to CNN. Her mother wants her to have an abortion, but the government has denied the request because abortion is illegal in Paraguay unless the mother’s health is in jeopardy.

“Right now, there is no reason to interrupt the pregnancy,” a public health representative told USA Today, adding that it may be more dangerous for her to have an abortion at this stage of her pregnancy.

The mother initially reported the stepfather’s sexual abuse in early 2014 with no results. The mother was arrested when she brought the 10-year-old to the hospital because her belly was swollen. The stepfather is now on the run, according to CNN.

***UPDATE***

The girl’s stepfather, who is accused of raping her, was arrested over the weekend and placed in isolation to prevent other inmates from attacking him. The girl’s mother is being held at a female prison for neglecting to take care of her daughter.