Paraguay: sexual violence and abortion restriction generate epidemic of child pregnancy

An epidemic of child pregnancies in Paraguay is being fueled by widespread sexual abuse and restrictive abortion laws, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

At least 1,000 girls aged 14 and under gave birth in the country between 2019 and 2020, the report says. He adds that more than 12,000 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 gave birth in 2019.

The report, entitled “They are girls, not mothers”, highlights a crisis of sexual violence against children, who are then forced to carry their pregnancies to term under Paraguayan law.

The South American nation’s abortion laws are some of the most extreme in the region, with the procedure criminalized in almost all circumstances, except when it is recognized that the mother’s life is in danger.

Paraguay has one of the highest rates of child and adolescent pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Premature birth can pose significant health risks. Girls under the age of 15 are four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, according to the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion.

In Paraguay, girls and teenagers aged between 10 and 19 are responsible for one in ten maternal deaths across the country, as well as 13% of maternal deaths caused by unsafe abortions, according to Amnesty.

Paraguay passed a law in 2018 to prevent sexual abuse and ensure comprehensive care for child and adolescent survivors of sexual abuse. However, the report describes the law’s implementation as insufficient, highlighting gaps in the protection of young people, “such as the absence of adequate public policies and non-compliance with existing laws to prevent abuses and provide redress when they occur”.

“By action and omission, Paraguay is turning its back on its girls and teenagers as they face unimaginable abuse,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, director of Amnesty International for the Americas.

“Girls are entitled to a life free from violence. Forcing someone to continue with the pregnancy, especially when it is the result of rape, is a form of ill-treatment that can be considered torture,” he added.

In 2019 alone, the country’s Public Ministry received an average of 12 allegations of sexual violence against children and adolescents per day, which in some cases resulted in pregnancy, according to the report.

Paraguay’s restrictive stance on abortion has attracted international attention. In 2015, an 11-year-old girl gave birth after Paraguayan authorities denied her an abortion. The girl became pregnant with her stepfather when she was 10 years old.

(Text translated, read original in English here)