Latin American rape survivors who were denied abortions turn to UN

Women from Nicaragua, Ecuador and Guatemala who suffered child rape take cases to UN human rights committee

Liz Ford
Wed 29 May 2019 13.21 BST Last modified on Wed 29 May 2019 21.10 BST

Four women from Latin America whose lives were put at risk when they were not allowed abortions after being raped as girls are taking their cases to the UN human rights committee.

The women, from Nicaragua, Ecuador and Guatemala, filed cases against their governments on Wednesday for failing to provide appropriate healthcare and denying them abortions, even when it was their legal right to have one.

Now aged between 18 and 23, the women were 14 or younger when they were raped. All were attacked by older men and dropped out of school after discovering they were pregnant. Although each of the women filed a police complaint, no one was ever arrested or charged in connection with the attacks.

The cases are being being brought on behalf of the women by the Center for Reproductive Rights, a US-based legal NGO, and Planned Parenthood Global, with law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLC, as well as local partners.

As well as seeking compensation, the women want the committee to compel the three governments to reopen their cases and amend policies and laws that discriminate against women and girls.

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