Rights group urges Paraguay to permit girl to have abortion

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ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Amnesty International is calling on Paraguay's government to allow a 10-year-old girl to get an abortion for the sake of her health.

Rosalia Vega, director of the international rights group in Asuncion, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the request had been made to the Health Ministry and Justice Department.

Authorities allege the girl was raped by her stepfather, who has fled. She was taken to a public hospital April 21 complaining of abdominal pains and found to be 22 weeks into the pregnancy.

Her mother's request to abort the child was not granted. Abortion in the poor South American country is illegal.

Domestic abuse makes young pregnancies a big problem. According to health statistics, 680 Paraguayan girls between 10 and 14 years old gave birth in 2014.