Help Amelia

Jill:

Amelia, a 27-year-old Nicaraguan woman, has a ten-year-old daughter. She also has cancer and desperately needs treatment, but is being denied care because she's pregnant. Abortion is entirely illegal in Nicaragua, even in a case like Amelia's where she needs a therapeutic abortion to save her life. In Amelia's case, it's not just abortion that is being denied — it's treatment for the cancer as well, since such treatment could harm the fetus. Amelia might die and her ten-year-old daughter may be left without her mother because of "pro-life" orthodoxy.

Women's groups are asking for help. Please visit RH Reality Check to see the full list of contacts – and please, send emails and spread the word.

I'll also recommend to USians (as always) writing to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to urge diplomatic pressure. We've got a feminist Secretary of State who makes women's issues a global priority; let us not be afraid to solicit her help! Sample letter:

Dear Secretary Clinton:

I have recently become aware that Amelia, a pregnant Nicaraguan woman and mother to a 10-year-old daughter who is being denied a therapeutic abortion and effective cancer treatment to save her life, because abortion is completely illegal in Nicaragua.

Women's groups in Nicaragua and international organizations working with them have asked people to immediately contact the chair and vice-chair of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), as well as Nicaraguan government officials.

As I am aware of and resoundingly support your advocacy on behalf of women worldwide, I am hopeful that there will be a swift response from the US State Department on Amelia's behalf.

Sincerely,
Melissa McEwan
Indiana