TIME00195

Argentina: M.V.O. Case – An abortion was requested by the mother of a 14-year-old girl who became pregnant after being raped by her stepfather. The court of first instance authorized the abortion. However, Silvia E. Fernandez, by order of Mar del Plata’s attorney general, appealed the ruling by claiming that it violated the rights of the unborn. The Chamber of Criminal Appeals declined to rule on the case on the grounds that the offense had not yet been committed, and transferred it to the civil courts. Finally, Chamber II of the Civil Chamber of Mar del Plata ruled unanimously to confirm the first instance decision. The claimant suffered a miscarriage.