A week ago, seven children and adolescents, aged 3 to 17, were rescued from a settlement on the outskirts of Concepción after neighbors reported repeated abandonment by their mother. The National Police and the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Codeni) acted quickly. The minors, who are fatherless, are now under the temporary custody of their 58-year-old paternal grandmother.
The grandmother said that the eldest granddaughter, aged 17, asked to take the siblings to her house for dinner. Upon returning to where they lived, the young woman revealed that their mother left them alone for several days. The grandmother also stated that the mother had sold all of the children's belongings, including clothes, shoes, and furniture. “With the low temperatures, they need shoes and clothes for this season,” she said.
None of the minors have identity documents. Only the 17-year-old adolescent attends school. The youngest brother, aged 3, underwent heart surgery and, according to his sister, has not been taken to post-operative medical check-ups.
During the intervention, the 17-year-old reported that her mother forced her to have sexual relations with an older man. The mother denies the accusation, but the grandmother says her granddaughter provided details of the incident. The allegation has not been independently corroborated.
Those who wish to help can contact Codeni at the municipal theater of Concepción, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., or call (0973) 999-636.