Abortion Fight Erupts Over Pregnant Girl, 10

Raped Mexican girl wasn't told she could abort
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 20, 2010 1:39 AM CDT
Abortion Fight Erupts Over Pregnant Girl, 10
Anti-abortion activists protest Mexico's Supreme Court decision to uphold the capital's abortion law in 2008. Conservative factions continue to battle any liberalization of the abortion law.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

An abortion rights battle is heating up in Mexico, with activists claiming officials didn't tell a 10-year-old girl raped by her stepfather that she could abort her fetus. In the girl's state of Quintana Roo, abortion is only legal in cases of rape, and only during the first 3 months of pregnancy, which the girl passed a month ago. Quintana Roo authorities say the girl and fetus are healthy, but a state legislator warns that a pregnancy at that age is a risk to both.

The girl's stepfather has been charged with rape. The case is the latest clash between abortion rights advocates and conservative factions, backed by the Catholic church. Mexico City legalized abortion in 2007 during the first 3 months of pregnancy, but it's prohibited or severely restricted in most Mexican states, reports CNN.
(More Mexico stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X