There was outrage in some parts of Brazil after personal
details of a 10-year-old rape victim were published online by a religious
activist who attempted to prevent her from having an abortion.
It was gathered that the little girl, from São Mateus, a
small town in the south-eastern state of Espírito Santo, was admitted to
hospital last week after she complained about abdominal pains. The doctors were
said to have discovered that she was pregnant.
News of her planned abortion was, however, posted online by
an anti-abortion activist, prompting protest outside the hospital where the
young girl was due to have the medical procedure.
According to Guardian UK, the girl told the police that her
uncle had been raping her since the age of six and that she had remained quiet
out of fear.
BBC also reported that the police on Wednesday arrested a
man suspected of raping her.
The development has however provoked outrage as a huge
number of Brazilian women took to the streets to protect the girl who was being
attacked by religious extremists over abortion.
“It’s unbelievable this is happening in Brazil, that part of
the population really believes abortion is worse than rape,” Paula Viana, a
women’s rights activist, who escorted her, told Guardian UK.
“But we weren’t surprised. We know we have a president who’s
supportive of this show of hatred.”
The Pernambuco Department of Health later stated that the
procedure was successfully carried out on the girl with judicial authorisation
and that “all legal parameters are being strictly followed”.
“She’s very strong. But she is just a child. She will need
long-term psychological support. She understands everything that she is going
through,” said Viana, while speaking of her wellbeing.
Brazil has strict laws on abortion. The medical procedure is
legal in the South American country only if it is the only means to save the
woman’s life or if the pregnancy is the result of rape.
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