The Center for Reproductive Rights is filing cases with the UN on behalf of four girls from Latin America who were victims of sexual violence and denied abortion. This bold legal approach aims to set new human rights standards and address ongoing systemic abuses. The outcomes could significantly reshape sexual and reproductive health rights across the region.
The Center for Reproductive Rights is pursuing new human rights standards at the UN to ensure safe abortions and protect sexual violence survivors. It represents four young girls from Ecuador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua who were denied vital reproductive healthcare, including abortions after being raped at ages under 14. These cases aim to address severe systemic violations in Latin America, where forced pregnancies often follow sexual violence. The ongoing litigation is a significant part of the “They are Girls, Not Mothers” movement, which seeks to highlight the detrimental effects of restrictive abortion laws in the region.
In Latin America, girls frequently experience forced pregnancies and childbirth after sexual abuse, raising serious human rights concerns. The Center’s coordinated lawsuits bring these issues to the forefront, demanding accountability from governments like Ecuador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Positive outcomes from the UN could lead to enhanced sexual and reproductive health rights across the globe, establishing a historic legal precedent.
The UN Human Rights Committee’s decisions could dramatically impact the rights of girls affected by sexual violence, advocating for their right to safe abortion and healthcare. By shedding light on these painful experiences, the litigation represents a brave step toward justice and the establishment of robust legal requirements for reproductive rights in Latin America and beyond.
Original Source: reproductiverights.org
