Foto Petita

12.10.08 – Paola Guzmán, a student in Ecuador, had been sexually abused by her school’s vice-principal for two years when, at the age of 16, she became pregnant. She committed suicide after learning of her pregnancy. Following her daughter’s death, Paola’s mother brought charges against the vice-principal and called for a disciplinary investigation. However, the local legal process has been slow and inefficient, and the vice-principal remains in hiding.

In October 2006, in conjunction with our local partner CEPAM-Guayaquil, the Center filed a petition before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). The petition, which was filed on behalf of Paola’s mother, argues that Ecuador has deprived Paola Guzmán of the rights to life, personal integrity, personal security, freedom from violence, non-discrimination, judicial guarantees, judicial protection, and to the measures of protection required by her condition as a minor under regional and international instruments.