A 17-year-old in Ecuador has received the maximum sentence – eight years of institutional confinement – for attempted femicide resulting in the loss of his pregnant partner’s unborn child, the State Attorney General’s Office announced Monday.
The case, wich unfolded in Cinco Maid, Tungurahua province on December 13, 2024, highlights the escalating issue of gender-based violence and it’s devastating consequences for young women and their families. The conviction sends a strong message about accountability for violence against women, particularly in cases involving pregnancy, and underscores the legal system’s commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals. The victim will also receive $10,000 in reparations.
Prosecutors detailed how the adolescent lured his partner to a secluded location under the guise of providing baby supplies. He then brutally attacked the minor, inflicting multiple blows to her abdomen, causing her to fall repeatedly, and ultimately wounding her with a knife to the face and body.
During the assault, the victim lost consciousness while attempting to defend herself. The attacker fled the scene, leaving her severely injured. medical examinations revealed the victim suffered the loss of an eye and the death of her 36-week-gestation fetus.
The Public Ministry’s investigation, supported by medical and psychological evidence, established the adolescent’s obligation for both non-consensual abortion and attempted femicide.The court’s decision reflects the gravity of these charges and the severity of the harm inflicted upon the victim.
