A 12-year-old schoolgirl in Brazil died after suffering a brain haemorrhage during childbirth – a 22-year-old man is believed to have raped her leading to her pregnancy
A 12-year-old girl has died while giving birth to her attacker’s baby after she was allegedly raped by a 22-year-old man.
The unnamed schoolgirl began suffering severe stomach cramps 32 weeks into her pregnancy and was rushed to the Mother and Child Centre in Betim, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Local media reports indicate the girl died from a brain haemorrhage after surgeons carried out an emergency C-section. Her uncle said her death was “because of the pregnancy”, adding “it was an adult man, we already know who he is”.
The young girl had not told her parents she was pregnant for weeks because she did not understand what was happening. and it is believed she did not receive any prenatal care.
She had been classed as a vulnerable person by police and officers are investigating her death.
It is not clear if an arrest has been made. Her newborn baby, meanwhile, is reported to have survived.
The city hall said the family, from an indigenous Warao tribal community, have been offered counselling.
“The family received continuous monitoring from the unit’s multidisciplinary team, including psychological support,” a spokesperson said.
The rape of a vulnerable person in Brazil comes with a penalty of up to 15 years behind bars.
In Argentina, there was a shocking case of a 12-year-old girl giving birth to twins after local authorities denied her an abortion after she was raped in 2020.
Officials forced the child to remain pregnant and two babies were later delivered by caesarean section. Abortion became legal in Argentina later that year.