The case of a 13-year-old girl which came to light yesterday in Costa Rica and who is alleged to have been impregnated by her biological father has been cast into the spotlight of a moral debate surrounding child rights, health and access to therapeutic abortion in a country where the topic is still virtually taboo due to the predominant Catholic religion.

The non-profit Costa Rican Acceder Foundation has come forth to publicly declare the need to put the girl’s health first in what appears to be a rape she suffered by her father in December 2016 when she, who was 12 at the time, and her brother, who is nine, visited him in Matina de Limón, according to reports in the Costa Rican daily CRHoy.com.

Larissa Arroyo, lawyer with the foundation, said to media that Article 121 of the criminal code in Costa Rica is very clear on cases of abortion when a woman’s health is threatened: A qualified doctor or public health center/hospital is required to perform a therapeutic abortion.

Arroyo said the state Child Welfare Office (Pani) and the state Women’s Institute (Inamu) are both in agreement that the girl’s health and well-being are at stake. She is currently approximately two months pregnant. Arroyo said her rights and welfare are of utmost priority in this situation of sexual violence, according to reports in CRHoy.com.

Meanwhile, police and other authorities are adamant that the suspect, who has been identified, be brought to justice.

The Acceder Foundation encourages women to contact them if they have any doubts on their reproductive rights especially in regards to abortion, as they can provide legal assistance:

• [email protected]
• Número celular 8822-1364
• Facebook.com/accedercr