10 year old rape victim in Bolivia receive threats from rapist supporters

A 10-year-old rape victim and her family in Bolivia, a country in central South America, have been receiving threats from rapist’s supporters. In a huge blow to women’s rights, the supporters of the rapist prevented his arrest. They invaded a local police station to provide support to the alleged rapist.

The ombudsman’s office in Bolivia had condemned threats against a 10-year-old rape victim. Videos posted on social media showed that the group pressured the judge to release the alleged perpetrator.

What happened to the 10 year old rape victim?

The 10 year old schoolgirl was allegedly raped by a 39-year-old headmaster. She also became pregnant as a result of the sexual assault. However, teachers and school staff accused the 10 year old girl of provoking her rapist.

The headmaster prevented the girl from going to her house. Earlier this month, he took the girl inside his vehicle and raped her. The man sexually harassed her for weeks. Later on, she became pregnant. 

The supporters of the rapist said that the 10-year-old girl seduced the headmaster. The victim blaming mindset is a huge blow to women’s rights.

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What happened at the police station?

Reportedly, teachers and school staff gathered outside the police station, demanding the release of the alleged perpetrator. They invaded the local police station and scuffled with police officers, trying to pressure them to release the alleged perpetrator. They also threatened the rape victim and her family. 

Bolivia’s ombudsman’s office said in a statement, “We reject all expressions that violate the rights of the victim and her family. We urge the authorities to take appropriate action against those who sought to obstruct justice.”

What did activists say?

Mónica Bayá, technical secretary of the NGO Comunidad de Derechos Humanos Bolivia, said, “This case highlights the disturbingly high tolerance for violence against girls in our country.”

She further said, “What concerns us deeply is that a 10-year-old girl is unjustly accused of seducing and provoking the adult man.”

Bárbara Jiménez-Santiago, Equality Now’s regional representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, said, “The Bolivian state must safeguard her privacy.”

Sexual violence against minors are rampant in Bolivia. One in three girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18 in Bolivia, as reported by The Guardian. Bolivia has one of the highest rates of sexual violence in Latin America.