Peruvian Congress Battles Over Abortion Rights for Child Rape Victims

Peruvian Congress Debates Therapeutic Abortion Access for Rape Victims Lima, Peru – A heated debate is raging in the Peruvian Congress over the Ministry of Health's recent policy allowing therapeutic abortions for girls who have been victims of sexual violence. The policy, intended to protect the physical and mental health of young girls, has faced strong opposition from conservative lawmakers. Susana Chávez, director of Promsex, a Peruvian organization advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights, strongly supports the measure. "The Ministry of Health, if it truly wants to defend a measure that is necessary so that girls don't have to be forced to face pregnancy due to violence, so that little girls don't have to become mothers at 10 or 11 years old, and that would be a way to preserve the health of these children, the Ministry can have sufficient support to maintain its measure," she stated in a recent interview. However, this view is not universally shared. Congresswoman Milagros Jáuregui, a vocal opponent, has led the charge against the policy, arguing that it violates ethical and religious principles. The debate highlights the deep divisions within Peruvian society on issues of reproductive rights and the protection of vulnerable populations. The outcome of the debate will have significant consequences for the access to healthcare for young girls in Peru.