Give now to help fight for justice for Paola and women and girls around
the world.
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Center for Reproductive Rights - ReproductiveRights.org
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Content Warning: This email contains details regarding one of our
cases that involves sexual assault, abuse, and harrassment, as well as
suicide.
Dear team,
At the Center for Reproductive Rights, we are fighting day in and day
out on behalf of women and girls around the world who are suffering
under draconian laws and policies that put their health and lives at
risk-and today is no exception.
This morning, our litigation team, alongside our partners at the
Center for the Promotion and Action of Women in Ecuador, are standing
before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights seeking justice for
Paola Guzmán, an Ecuadorian girl who committed suicide at 16-years-old
after becoming pregnant as a result of sexual abuse and harassment by
her school's vice-principal.
With the help of supporters like you, we are fighting on behalf of
women and girls who face this kind of abuse in countries all over the
world. Will you stand with us in demanding justice for Paola today?
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Paola was enrolled at the public school in her hometown of Guayaquil,
Ecuador, when she began having academic problems and faced the
possibility of being held back a year. The vice-principal of the
school, who was 50 years older than Paola at the time, offered to help
her with her school work on the condition that she would have sex with
him. After harassing and pressuring her for months, the vice-principal
raped Paola repeatedly.
This abuse continued for several months before Paola discovered she
was pregnant. When he learned of her pregnancy, the vice-principal
asked Paola to get an abortion, and sent her to the school doctor to
perform the procedure. The school doctor agreed under one condition:
that Paola also have sex with him.
These events led Paola to take her own life a few days after her 16th
birthday by ingesting white phosphorous, a toxic substance that can be
lethal. The school authorities were alerted shortly after she arrived
at school, but the school officials did not take the necessary
measures to address Paola's serious condition or arrange that she be
transferred to a hospital even though she was under their custody and
care. Paola died in the early morning hours the next day.
Paola
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The state of Ecuador failed to protect Paola from multiple predatory
public officials and failed in its duty to guarantee Paola the right
to life, personal integrity, education, and a life free from violence
and discrimination.
We are asking the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to award direct
reparations to Paola's mother, Doña Petita (pictured above). Further,
we are demanding standards for States to recognize the epidemic of
sexual violence in schools, the power disparities in relations between
girls and adults with serious age gaps, and requiring Ecuador to
implement structural change that will protect girls from predatory
authority figures. In her mother's own words, "we will ask the Court
to bring justice to Paola and restore her name and dignity."
As a Center supporter, I hope you'll continue to stand with us against
injustices like these whenever and wherever we are needed. Please make
a generous gift today to help us keep fighting for justice and dignity
for all.
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Thank you,
Catalina Martínez Coral
Regional Director, Latin America & the Caribbean
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reproductiverights.org
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The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the power of law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world.
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Center for Reproductive Rights
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