11-year-old gives birth after being denied abortion

An 11-year-old girl gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday in Paraguay's capital of Asuncion, in a case that has sparked outrage from numerous observers.

The family's lawyer, Elizabeth Torales, told the press at the Reina Sofia hospital that the baby girl had been born via cesarean and that both the mother and the child were well.

According to reports by xinhuanet.com, the baby will remain in hospital for a few days, and her mother and grandmother have applied for custody.

However, the horrifying details surrounding this young girl's pregnancy are clouding the future.

When the case first broke out earlier this year, it was widely reported that the girl had been raped by her stepfather when she was 10. The man has since been charged and has a court case pending.

Similarly, the 11-year-old's mother is facing charges of negligence, which will most likely impact her bid for custody of the newborn.

However, worse news yet came after the government turned down a petition by the mother on behalf of the pregnant girl for an abortion.

Paraguay takes a very stringent line on abortion, ruling it out in all cases except when the mother's life is in danger.

Following the birth, Amnesty International released a statement, expressing their relief that the mother and the child are healthy, but slammed the government.

It said that "the fact she did not die does not excuse the human rights violations she suffered".

Teenage pregnancy is rampant in Paraguay, according to a doctor from Reina Sofia hospital, who told the press that two 12-year-old girls were also awaiting birth there.

11-year-old gives birth after being denied abortion

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