Dominican Republic: Submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child – 94th Session

Human Rights Watch
August 31, 2023

The National Confederation of Rural Women (Confederación Nacional de Mujeres del Campo or CONAMUCA), Network of United Youth Voices (Red Juvenil Voces Unidas), the Coalition for Women’s Life and Dignity (Coalición por la Vida y la Dignidad de las mujeres), and Human Rights Watch write in advance of the 94th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (the “Committee”) and its review of the Dominican Republic. This submission addresses articles 3, 6, 24, 28, and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and covers access to abortion and specific aspects of the right to education.

The total abortion ban in the Dominican Republic, in effect since 1884, threatens the health and lives of girls, women, and pregnant people, and is incompatible with the country’s international human rights obligations.

Continued:  https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/08/31/dominican-republic-submission-un-committee-rights-child


Pregnant 11-year-old girl denied abortion after stepfather viciously raped her

The Peruvian child's advocates are currently fighting the decision, which included separating her from her mother. The case highlights Peru's problem with sexual violence and underage pregnancy among girls.

By JACOB KESSLER
Sat, Aug 12, 2023

Recent tragedies in Peru have brought the issue of denying abortion to child rape victims into the global spotlight. The United Nations, concerned about the violation of children's rights, has called for a reevaluation of the country's approach to such cases.

In a significant ruling issued by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in mid-June, the Peruvian state was found to have violated the rights of a 13-year-old indigenous girl named Camila (pseudonym).

Continued: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1801582/peru-pregnant-girl-abortion-rape


Peru denies abortion to girl raped by her stepfather

The United Nations have called on the government to reconsider the case of the 11-year-old, which comes just two months after a 13-year-old rape victim was also prevented from ending her pregnancy

Renzo Gómez Vega
AUG 10, 2023

In mid-June, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) issued a historic ruling: it found that the Peruvian state violated the rights of a 13-year-old indigenous girl called Camila (pseudonym), who was the victim of incest and rape, by not providing her with information on or access to legal and safe abortion. In the resolution, the CRC urged Peru to decriminalize abortion in all cases of child pregnancy and to amend the regulations governing access to therapeutic abortion to provide for its specific application to girls. It also called for the creation of a cross-cutting mechanism to ensure that victims are not retraumatized. Two months later, a very similar case shows that the Peruvian government has not heeded these calls.

In this new case, the girl in question is 11 years old and is called Mila — not only to protect her identity, but also to make it clear that her rights have been violated just like Camila’s. Mila comes from a humble area of Iquitos, the capital of the department of Loreto, which is a gateway to the Amazon Rainforest. She has been systematically abused by her stepfather since she was six, and a month ago, she found out that she was 13 weeks pregnant.

Continued:  https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-08-10/peru-denies-abortion-to-girl-raped-by-her-stepfather.html


Peru Should Provide Comprehensive Reproductive Care for Girls

UN Committee Finds Peru Violated Girl’s Human Rights, Urges Abortion Reform

Cristina Quijano Carrasco, Researcher, Women's Rights
June 20, 2023

When Camila (a pseudonym), an Indigenous girl in rural Peru, was 13, she became pregnant after years of rape by her father. Authorities denied her request for an abortion, even though the pregnancy posed serious risks to her life and health. Later, when Camila had a miscarriage and sought emergency health care, authorities prosecuted her – and forced her through a traumatizing court process.

Abortions in Peru are punishable by up to two years in prison, except when the life or health of the woman, girl, or pregnant person is in danger. Camila’s case fit this exception for what are known as “therapeutic abortions.” Even so, she was convicted in 2018 and only acquitted on appeal a year later.

Continued: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/20/peru-should-provide-comprehensive-reproductive-care-girls


Girl raped by father should have received abortion access, U.N. tells Peru

By Adam Schrader
June 18, 2023

A young girl who was raped by her father and became pregnant should have received abortion information and access, a United Nations committee told Peru last week.

The girl, identified by the pseudonym Camila, was first raped by her father when she was 9 years old and was continuously abused until she became pregnant in 2017 at the age of 13, the U.N. Child Rights Committee said in a statement.

Continued: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2023/06/18/peru-girl-raped-by-father-abortion-access-united-nations/6581687107956/


Difficulties linger in accessing legal abortion in Slovakia

By Lucia Yar | EURACTIV.sk
Oct 10, 2021   

As many as a third of all hospitals and
medical facilities surveyed refuse to provide legal abortions on the grounds of
conscientious objection, according to a study by the feminist organisation
Possibility of Choice.

Due to conscientious objection, individuals can refuse to perform certain
medical procedures based on their religious or personal beliefs. However, no
legal norm states that entire medical facilities can exercise conscientious
objection. In addition to hospitals, pharmacies often refer to it when refusing
to sell hormonal contraception to women.

Continued: https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/difficulties-linger-in-accessing-legal-abortion-in-slovakia/


Brazil: Decriminalize Abortion

Brazil: Decriminalize Abortion
Court Considering Petition to Expand Access

July 31, 2018

(São Paulo) – Brazil’s abortion laws are incompatible with its human rights obligations, Human Rights Watch said today, releasing a video about the issue. Human Rights Watch will speak at a public hearing on August 3 and 6, 2018, as part of a Supreme Court case challenging the criminalization of abortion in Brazil in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Human Rights Watch will urge the court to consider Brazil’s obligations under international law in reaching its ruling.

Abortion is legal in Brazil only in cases of rape, when necessary to save a woman’s life, or when the fetus suffers from anencephaly – a fatal congenital brain disorder. Women and girls who terminate pregnancies under any other circumstances face up to three years in prison.

Continued: https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/07/31/brazil-decriminalize-abortion


Amicus Brief: Decriminalization on Abortion in South Korea

Amicus Brief: Decriminalization on Abortion in South Korea
May 22, 2018

I. Introduction

Human Rights Watch has the honor of submitting this amicus brief in connection with case 2017Hun-Ba127, which is before the Constitutional Court of Korea (Constitutional Court). This case involves a review of the constitutionality of the Republic of Korea (South Korea)’s criminal law on abortion.

Under articles 269 and 270 of the Criminal Act, abortion is a crime, and any woman who undergoes an abortion risks up to one year of imprisonment or fines up to 2 million won (US$1850). Healthcare workers who provide abortions can face up to two years in prison, or more under certain circumstances.[1]

Continued: https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/22/amicus-brief-decriminalization-abortion-south-korea


Indian court allows 10-year-old rape victim to have an abortion

Indian court allows 10-year-old rape victim to have an abortion
Girl had crossed 20-week legal limit after which terminations are usually only allowed if there is danger to life of mother or baby

Agence France-Presse

Wednesday 17 May 2017

A 10-year-old girl who was raped will be allowed to have an abortion even though she has crossed the 20-week limit for terminations in India, police in the country said on Wednesday.

The child has said she was repeatedly raped by her stepfather, who has since been arrested.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/17/indian-court-allows-10-year-old-victim-to-have-an-abortion