11-Year-Old Raped By Stepfather Has Baby After Officials Deny Abortion

After allegedly being raped by her stepfather in May, an 11-year-old girl in Paraguay, identified in legal documents as "Mainumby," gave birth to a daughter.

Government officials said Mainumby's pregnancy didn't put her life in danger, and international human rights groups say she and her daughter are both healthy, reports Think Progress.

However, medical experts say women under the age of 15 who give birth generally have higher risks of complications during childbirth.

Abortion is only legal in Paraguay when the woman's life is at risk. Otherwise, it's illegal.

Back in May, Paraguay's denial of the abortion received intense scrutiny from the international community.

Amnesty International reportedly considered this denial of reproductive rights to the girl "tragic" and "terrifying."

Americas director at Amnesty International, Erika Guevara, said while she and the organization are glad the Mainumby and baby are doing well, “only time will tell the true extent of the physical and psychological consequences of her tragic ordeal.”

She also added,

The fact that [the girl] did not die does not excuse the human rights violations she suffered at the hands of the Paraguayan authorities, who decided to gamble with her health, life and integrity despite overwhelming evidence that this pregnancy was extremely risky and despite the fact that she was a rape-victim and a child.

Citations: 11-Year-Old Rape Victim Gives Birth After Being Denied An Abortion (Think Progress)