In Peru, an Epidemic of Rape and Double Jeopardy for Rape Victims Seeking Abortion
Written by Françoise Girard for RH Reality Check. This diary is cross-posted; commenters wishing to engage directly with the author should do so at the original post.
Peru, while famous for its modern culinary delights and ancient civilizations, also has a far less flattering distinction: it has more reported cases of rape and sexual violence than any other country in South America. Eight in ten of these victims are minors.
Researchers estimate that 35,000 pregnancies occur every year in Peru as a result of rape. Women and girls in this situation are faced with two options: seek an illegal abortion and risk going to jail or carry the pregnancy to term and suffer the psychological and physical trauma that go along with giving birth to your rapist's child. Women who can prove that a pregnancy is the result of rape receive a "reduced" sentence of three months in jail (the standard prison sentence for illegal abortions in Peru is two years). Perversely, this reduced sentence does not apply to married women who are raped by their husbands, even though marital rape is a crime under Peruvian law. Doctors who perform abortions in cases of rape face up to six years in prison.
A coalition of women's rights groups have launched a campaign to challenge this cruel violation of human rights. The campaign, Dejala Decidir ("Let her decide"), seeks to introduce a new law that decriminalizes abortion in cases of rape (currently, abortion is only permitted when the woman's life or health is at risk
Peru, while famous for its modern culinary delights and ancient civilizations, also has a far less flattering distinction: it has more reported cases of rape and sexual violence than any other country in South America. Eight in ten of these victims are minors.
Researchers estimate that 35,000 pregnancies occur every year in Peru as a result of rape. Women and girls in this situation are faced with two options: seek an illegal abortion and risk going to jail or carry the pregnancy to term and suffer the psychological and physical trauma that go along with giving birth to your rapist's child. Women who can prove that a pregnancy is the result of rape receive a "reduced" sentence of three months in jail (the standard prison sentence for illegal abortions in Peru is two years). Perversely, this reduced sentence does not apply to married women who are raped by their husbands, even though marital rape is a crime under Peruvian law. Doctors who perform abortions in cases of rape face up to six years in prison.
A coalition of women's rights groups have launched a campaign to challenge this cruel violation of human rights. The campaign, Dejala Decidir ("Let her decide"), seeks to introduce a new law that decriminalizes abortion in cases of rape (currently, abortion is only permitted when the woman's life or health is at risk
http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/rhrealitycheck/peru-epidemic-rape-and-double-jeopardy-rape-victims-seeking-abortion
What can you do to help?
share this with someone
write a letter to the government
speak to your MP or MLA
take one action to help - nothing is too small.
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