Pregnant 12 –Y – O claims she was raped by Stepdad; Police, Child Care Agency investigating

By Kurt Campbell

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) is currently investigating a matter involving a pregnant 12 – year – old, who is currently being monitored at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) and claims that she was raped by her stepfather.

During an interview with iNews today, CCPA Head Ann Greene said the agency has already made contact with the child’s mother after the issue was brought to the agency’s attention following her admittance to the GPH at the weekend.

“We are doing some investigation, some of the allegations are that she was raped by her stepfather and we are looking into it, they are working now with the mother to get some background,” the CCPA Head said.

Greene explained that once the Agency has gathered enough information the police will then be called in to carry out their investigations. “We are going to call the police in; we definitely have to because it’s a child under 12 and nobody should be having sex a child under 12,” she added.

Reports are that the child, who hails from Region 9, is due to deliver her first baby within days.

iNews was told that the accused along with the child’s mother have denied the allegations. The man and woman were detained by police for questioning; however, efforts to secure an update from the police proved futile.

In recent times there have been quite a few cases of children between the ages of 10 and 15 becoming pregnant, some allegedly by family members.

A Region One Amerindian Leader is currently in prison awaiting his next Court ghearing after he was charged with raping his 10 – year – old daughter.

According to the United Nations Children Fund (UINICEF), generally there is a gap in provision of appropriate services for adolescents, especially in the area of reproductive health and this has now become an urgency given the risk of HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies.