Case of a pregnant minor after rape brings together a team of specialists in Bolivia

The Ministry of Health reported this Thursday that it formed a medical team of specialists to carry out a scientific medical assessment of the 11-year-old minor who became pregnant after being sexually abused by her grandmother and who is now in a Church foster home. catholic.

The team is made up of 10 specialists including psychologists, gynecologists, psychiatrists, among others, who will carry out a “strictly technical” assessment of the girl’s health.

“It will be reported through the competent authority so that both the mother and the girl make an informed decision and in total freedom,” says the statement from the Ministry of Health.

It also indicates that according to the disposition of the resolution of the First Constitutional Chamber of the Departmental Court of Justice of La Paz, “a place where the girl could be cared for to safeguard her health and life has also been identified.”

The 11-year-old girl is currently in a shelter of the Catholic Church in eastern Santa Cruz, which promised to support her so that she has the baby; However, this week the mother denounced that she is not allowed to see her daughter.

Initially the girl wanted to have an abortion, which is allowed in the country for rape victims, but after being contacted by a religious organization she gave up the procedure.

In search of resolution

This Thursday the resolution of the Departmental Court of Justice of La Paz was known, which resolved to grant in part the protection requested by the Ombudsman’s Office and also ordered a medical evaluation of the girl.

It also explains that it cannot rule on whether or not the minor’s pregnancy is interrupted and asks the Vice Ministry of Communication to issue a statement to avoid the irresponsible handling of information on this situation.

This case caused controversy and outrage in Bolivia when it was learned that the girl suffered repeated sexual abuse by her grandmother, who was in charge of the girl, since her parents traveled for work.

The 61-year-old man is being held in preventive detention in a prison in Santa Cruz.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a judicial appeal to protect the rights of the minor, and also asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for precautionary measures so that the State “undertake measures to protect and safeguard” the girl, among other actions.

Meanwhile, the mother of the minor also went to the IACHR requesting precautionary measures so that the interruption of her daughter’s pregnancy can be avoided, which in her opinion is promoted by the Ombudsman’s Office.

This week the IACHR ruled on this case and recommended that Bolivia comply with its obligation to protect children from sexual violence and forced pregnancy.

UN Bolivia noted that subjecting a girl to a forced pregnancy is “classified as torture” and urged the authorities to intensify efforts to protect the rights of girl victims of sexual violence. (I)