In August, a little girl is going to see her first birthday. For most people, that’s a reason to celebrate. For some UN “human rights experts,” it’s cause for “regret.”
The girl was was born in Paraguay to an 11-year-old rape survivor, and her conception wasn’t known until she was 21 weeks along.
While the baby’s grandmother demanded that she be aborted, Paraguayan authorities refused; the law only permits abortion when a mother’s life is at risk, and doctors determined that wasn’t the case. Further, a public health official pointed out that late-term abortion can itself be fatal, a fact too many women have experienced.
Apparently the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) wasn’t concerned. Several of its figures condemned the decision, including the organization’s expert on torture. Amnesty International brought up torture as well, claiming that letting the girl live would be “tantamount” to it.
If these groups are really concerned about torture, then they should look at what they were arguing for.
Research by Dr. Kanwaljeet Anand at the University of Tennessee indicates a fetus can feel pain by 20 weeks–a week before this girl’s life was discovered. Dr. Anthony Levatino performed over 1200 abortions during his career, and in the video below, he explains what one involves at 21 weeks.
After the amniotic fluid is removed, the abortionist uses a sopher clamp — a grasping instrument with rows of sharp “teeth” — to grasp and pull the baby’s arms and legs, tearing the limbs from the child’s body. The abortionist continues to grasp intestines, spine, heart, lungs, and any other limbs or body parts. The most difficult part of the procedure is usually finding, grasping and crushing the baby’s head. After removing pieces of the child’s skull, the abortionist uses a curette to scrape the uterus and remove the placenta and any remaining parts of the baby.
If that isn’t torture, it’s tough to imagine what is.
Many seem to think an abortion prevents further psychological harm, but there’s little evidence to support that. In fact, a study published in the British Medical Journal said abortion was associated with an elevated risk of suicide.
Then again, some abortion proponents aren’t too concerned about rape survivors or their emotional well being. When Jennifer Christie refused to abort her son after being raped, she was called “stupid,” “brain damaged,” “f–ked in the head” and “an a–hole” for not killing him. One woman said via email, “I want to hurt you.”
Last August, a healthy baby girl was delivered via cesarean section without complications. If the OHCHR and Amnesty International had gotten their way, she’d be dead. So might her mother.
Both these groups say they’re opposed to capital punishment. We can debate whether the death penalty is ever appropriate, but here’s something you’d think we could agree on: a little girl shouldn’t die for her father’s crimes. That we can’t is what’s truly regrettable.
Editor’s Note: Live Action works to maintain the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Live Action has looked into key elements of Ms. Christie’s testimony and personal story and has found them to be credible.