This girl from Paraguay is only ten years old and already 22-weeks pregnant, after allegedly getting raped by her stepfather. But she's not allowed to terminate the pregnancy, because abortion is highly forbidden in the South American nation, even in case of rape or incest. In fact, the only exception to the rule is when the woman's life is at risk, but in this case, the authorities have already ruled the girl is not at risk. Health Minister Antonio Barrios explained that the state would provide the girl with hospital treatment, but that it would not grant her allow her to have an abortion. "The ministry's position is to respect the National Constitution which says you must preserve life over everything else, and it is considered a life from the moment of conception". Human rights organizations are calling the ministry to reconsider the decision, because giving birth at such a young age may harm the girl. But so far, the government has been persistent.
In the meantime, the girl is being treated at a Red Cross facility in Asuncion. Her stepfather is still at large, while her mother - who's asked authorities to allow the abortion - is in police custody on charges of neglect and being an accomplice to sexual abuse.
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