In Presidente Franco, a 12-year-old girl arrived at a hospital pregnant, accompanied by a 17-year-old adolescent described as her partner. The mother of the minor was detained for failing in her duty of care, according to a report by Noticias CDE.
The case has sparked outrage, as Paraguayan law is clear: a person under 14 cannot consent to sexual relations, and any such relationship constitutes a crime. The source article emphasizes that this is not a case of innocent dating but of child sexual abuse, noting that a 12-year-old lacks the physical, emotional, and psychological maturity for adult responsibilities like pregnancy.
The mother’s detention highlights the legal responsibility of adults to protect children. The report calls on society to reject normalization of such relationships and to demand enforcement of the law, stressing that childhood must be protected, not sacrificed under the guise of a relationship.