Mexican Mother Wants Compensation for Denial of Abortion

MEXICO CITY – A woman with a three-year-old son is pursuing a fierce legal battle, backed by feminist groups, over the right she allegedly should have had to abort the child because the boy’s father was a rapist.  Paulina Ramirez was 13 when she was raped by an intruder in her family’s home. When she was found to be pregnant, doctors, government social workers, and a Catholic priest all persuaded her not to have an abortion, noting the innocence of the child and the harm the abortion would cause to her herself. She was also given $10,000 U.S. in to assist with the raising of the child—but now she wants more.  “Now that I’m of age, I’m going to continue fighting for my rights,” she said. “And more than anything, for women so that the same thing doesn’t happen to them. My life has changed so much,” she said, referring to how her studies were discontinued. “They have destroyed my life completely. It has been very difficult … more than anything, many years have passed and still the government has done nothing.”  For newswire coverage:  https://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=553&ncid=751&e=7&u=/ap/20030904/ap_wo_en_he/la_gen_mexico_abortion_dispute