Pregnant 10 Year Old Sparks Abortion Controversy
by A 10 year old girl, raped by her stepfather and now pregnant, becomes the subject of heated debate in Mexico.
A 10 year old girl, raped by her stepfather and now pregnant, has become the subject of heated debate in Mexico concerning the country’s mixed pro-choice and pro-life abortion laws.
Abortions are a legally allowed practice in Mexico City, Mexico, but have become banned throughout most of the country. The state where the young girl resides does allow abortions for pregnancies which are a result of rape, but only during the first trimester of pregnancy. The girl, however, is in the middle of the second trimester.
The girl’s mother reported the incident to authorities. The stepfather has since been arrested.
Some advocacy groups are arguing that the 10 year old was not informed that she could have aborted the birth in March when the matter was brought to the attention of the authorities. At the time the incident was reported, the girl was still in her first trimester of pregnancy. The girl is no longer under her mother’s care and remains in the custody of state child welfare authorities.
Pro-choice groups and child advocacy organizations in both Mexico and the United States are calling for the allowance of an abortion in the case due to the potential physical health hazards and mental health issues that birthing a child could place on the girl.
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