A heart-wrenching incident has shaken the small indigenous community of Warao in eastern Brazil. A 12-year-old girl, allegedly raped by a 22-year-old man, has died while giving birth to her attacker’s baby.
The young girl, who was eight months pregnant, was rushed to a maternity hospital in Belo Horizonte after experiencing severe stomach cramps.
Unfortunately, she suffered a brain haemorrhage and passed away during an emergency C-section.
Her newborn baby, however, reportedly survived.
A Delayed Discovery
The girl’s family members revealed that she didn’t understand what was happening to her body and therefore didn’t inform her parents about her pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and loss of appetite, for several weeks. As a result, she didn’t receive any prenatal care.
When hospital staff discovered the situation, they immediately alerted the police, who have launched an investigation into the rape of a vulnerable person.
A Family Devastated
The girl’s uncle, Andy Tovar, emphasized that her death was directly related to her pregnancy. “This death was because of her pregnancy. It was an adult man, we already know who he is,” he said.
In Brazil, the rape of a vulnerable person can lead to up to 15 years of imprisonment. It is unclear whether the suspect has been arrested.
The city officials have offered the family expert counseling services, including psychological support, to help them cope with their loss.
A Disturbing Pattern
This tragic incident echoes a similar case in Argentina in 2020, where a 12-year-old girl was forced to carry her pregnancy to term despite being a rape victim. Abortion is only legal in Brazil in cases where the pregnant person’s life is at risk or when the pregnancy results from rape.