10-year-old's pregnancy fuels Mexican abortion debate

[DaemonSeid]

Mexico City, Mexico (CNN) -- A pregnant 10-year-old, allegedly raped by her stepfather, has become the latest lightning rod in the country's heated abortion debate.

The girl's stepfather has been arrested. But advocates on both sides of the issue say their battle is just beginning.

"This girl is much more than an isolated case," said Adriana Ortiz-Ortega, a researcher at Mexico's National Autonomous University who has written two books on abortion in Mexico, "and there is much more influence now from conservative groups that are trying to prevent the legalization of abortion."

Abortion is legal in Mexico's capital city, but prohibited or significantly restricted in most of the country's states. The girl's home state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan peninsula, allows abortion in cases of rape during the first 90 days of the pregnancy. But the 10-year-old girl is at 17½ weeks, nearly a month past that limit.

Advocacy groups are calling for federal officials and the United Nations to investigate Quintana Roo's handling of the matter, claiming officials did not inform her of her abortion rights.

"We don't know what is happening, and the institution that is supposed to provide support and care for these minors hasn't been transparent. We're really asking for accountability," said Maria Luisa Sanchez Fuentes, director of the Information Group on Reproductive Choice.

State Attorney General Francisco Alor Quezada said he did not know whether officials had told the girl she had the option of pursuing an abortion, and he did not know how far the girl was into her pregnancy when her mother reported the assault to authorities last month.

He said the girl is in the custody of state protective services, and officials are closely monitoring her physical and psychological care.

"I do not think there is another instance in which the girl could be in better hands," he said Monday.

Child protective services officials in Quintana Roo said in a statement last week that the girl and the fetus were in good health.


link

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Mexico City, Mexico (CNN) -- A pregnant 10-year-old, allegedly raped by her stepfather, has become the latest lightning rod in the country's heated abortion debate.

The girl's stepfather has been arrested. But advocates on both sides of the issue say their battle is just beginning.

"This girl is much more than an isolated case," said Adriana Ortiz-Ortega, a researcher at Mexico's National Autonomous University who has written two books on abortion in Mexico, "and there is much more influence now from conservative groups that are trying to prevent the legalization of abortion."

Abortion is legal in Mexico's capital city, but prohibited or significantly restricted in most of the country's states. The girl's home state of Quintana Roo, on the Yucatan peninsula, allows abortion in cases of rape during the first 90 days of the pregnancy. But the 10-year-old girl is at 17½ weeks, nearly a month past that limit.

Advocacy groups are calling for federal officials and the United Nations to investigate Quintana Roo's handling of the matter, claiming officials did not inform her of her abortion rights.

"We don't know what is happening, and the institution that is supposed to provide support and care for these minors hasn't been transparent. We're really asking for accountability," said Maria Luisa Sanchez Fuentes, director of the Information Group on Reproductive Choice.

State Attorney General Francisco Alor Quezada said he did not know whether officials had told the girl she had the option of pursuing an abortion, and he did not know how far the girl was into her pregnancy when her mother reported the assault to authorities last month.

He said the girl is in the custody of state protective services, and officials are closely monitoring her physical and psychological care.

"I do not think there is another instance in which the girl could be in better hands," he said Monday.

Child protective services officials in Quintana Roo said in a statement last week that the girl and the fetus were in good health.


link

um..okay

[DrPhil]

Ok.

Welp, I'm pro-abortion anyway.

[AOII Angel]

No ending would be a good one for this little girl. I don't see her getting a lot of psychological help in Mexico...then again, maybe I'm just biased against Mexico.

[squirrely girl]

Ummmmmmmm... allowing a TEN YEAR OLD girl to continue with a pregnancy is INSANE! I don't care where people fall along the abortion debate, but this is NOT SAFE. Pregnancy is HARD on an ADULT body, but a child?! WTF?!

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

Ummmmmmmm... allowing a TEN YEAR OLD girl to continue with a pregnancy is INSANE! I don't care where people fall along the abortion debate, but this is NOT SAFE. Pregnancy is HARD on an ADULT body, but a child?! WTF?!

Ditto.

[WinniBug]

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

Ummmmmmmm... allowing a TEN YEAR OLD girl to continue with a pregnancy is INSANE! I don't care where people fall along the abortion debate, but this is NOT SAFE. Pregnancy is HARD on an ADULT body, but a child?! WTF?!

I would think that the psychological repercussions of an abortion would be worse.

[I.A.S.K.]

Originally Posted by WinniBug

I would think that the psychological repercussions of an abortion would be worse.

Um. I'd have to say its not. I mean being upset about the abortion is better than being DEAD after attempting to deliver/delivering a baby.

[epchick]

10 year olds having babies in this day and age aren't as uncommon as people think it is. Sad, yet true.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by epchick

10 year olds having babies in this day and age aren't as uncommon as people think it is. Sad, yet true.

10 year olds have been having babies in underdeveloped countries for quite a while now. Some of the first tests with the Pill (back in the 1950s) were done in areas where girls were age 19 and had 8-9-10 kids.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by WinniBug

I would think that the psychological repercussions of an abortion would be worse.

What about the psychological reprecussions of being a child (allegedly) raped by your stepfather and forced to have that child, in addition to the physical hardships of pregnancy and childbirth on a child body?

[WinniBug]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

What about the psychological repercussions of being a child (allegedly) raped by your stepfather and forced to have that child, in addition to the physical hardships of pregnancy and childbirth on a child body?

I agree that rape's a horrible thing to happen to anyone, but nothing can be done about that NOW...what there is control over is whether the little girl has to live the rest of her life knowing she killed her little baby.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by WinniBug

I agree that rape's a horrible thing to happen to anyone, but nothing can be done about that NOW...what there is control over is whether the little girl has to live the rest of her life knowing she killed her little baby.

Its not "her baby." Neither party had intentions nor discussed who would have ownership over said baby. And the child wouldn't be killing her baby. If anything, (in this case) aborting this unborn child would be a small step in righting this wrong.

On the "if this was my child" side of things, I too would do/say/act however I needed to make sure my child could endure the least amount of trauma. Certainly, going through childbirth at 10, IMO is out the window, regardless if the child would be kept or given for adoption. She would have a lifetime membership on the couch and therapy on a consistent basis. Her views on men, sex (and sexual abuse), trust, her body, relationships, children/procreation, and abortion, etc are skewed forever, and I highly doubt her brain can act in a childlike manner much longer.

As a mother, I'd seek therapy as well.. imagine the mother's psyche: her baby has been deflowered and taken advantage of in the worst way by someone you loved/trusted. That has to screw with a mother's mind.

Were there any legal repurcussions for the mother? I highly doubt the stepfather's rape was a one-time thing. The mother seriously had no idea? (Excuse my ignorance as I didn't read the article)

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by WinniBug

I agree that rape's a horrible thing to happen to anyone, but nothing can be done about that NOW...what there is control over is whether the little girl has to live the rest of her life knowing she killed her little baby.

Imagine being that "baby"...grown up. Imagine how you'd feel knowing you were the product of incest. That's something that therapy can not heal. Better to not bring that life into the world.

[KSUViolet06]

Really Mexico?