In a shocking case, the head of Costa Rica’s National Board of Trustees of Children (PANI) has been called out for their silence regarding a 13-year-old girl who became pregnant after alleged abuse. The situation escalated when the baby was kidnapped by the suspected abuser. As the public demands answers, President Rodrigo Chaves is pushing PANI to investigate and uncover the truth.
The President Demands Action from PANI
President Rodrigo Chaves acknowledges that the current head of PANI was not in charge at the time of the incident but insists on a thorough investigation. The President has called on PANI and the public to reflect on their actions, stating, “Staying silent is being an accomplice.”
Hospital Denunciation and PANI’s Role
The Max Peralta Hospital reported the case of the 13-year-old girl, raped by her stepfather, to PANI after she gave birth on July 10th. Despite the hospital’s recommendations for inter-institutional support, PANI authorized the girl’s discharge. Questions are now being raised about PANI’s knowledge of the case and the lack of legal and psychological support for the girl and her baby.
The Ombudsman’s Demands
The Ombudsman is calling for PANI to provide documentation, including criminal complaints, administrative files, special protection measures, and intervention plans that should have been in place for the girl and her baby. Information on compliance with these plans and actions taken to investigate the rape and protect the young mother and her child is also being requested.
Baby Kidnapping and Current Situation
The nine-month-old baby, taken from the mother’s arms, has not been found. The mother’s stepfather, who is the prime suspect and currently undergoing a paternity test to confirm the rape, is in preventive detention while being investigated. Sexual relations with a child under 13 are considered rape in Costa Rica, carrying a 10-16 year prison sentence.
The young mother is now under PANI’s care in a home without a television to prevent retraumatization from ongoing news coverage.
This disturbing case of child abuse and kidnapping has prompted President Rodrigo Chaves and the Ombudsman to demand accountability from PANI. As the investigation unfolds, the hope is that justice will be served, and the young mother and her baby can receive the support and protection they desperately need.
