Nicaragua's ban on abortion 'compels rape and incest victims to
give birth'  Amnesty report details shocking effects of
country's penal code which criminalises abortions in all cases
Nicaragua's ban on all abortions, even when a woman's life is at
risk, is compelling incest and rape victims to give birth and
contributing to an increase in maternal deaths, according to a
report from Amnesty International.  Delegates from the human
rights charity, who recently visited the predominantly Catholic
country, say young girls subjected to sexual violence by family
or friends are forced to give birth even when they are carrying
their own brothers and sisters.  The report also says the law
has led to a recorded rise in pregnant teenagers committing
suicide by consuming poison.  Official figures show 33 girls and
women died in pregnancy in the past year, compared to 20 in the
previous year, it says. But the numbers are feared to be greater
as the government itself has acknowleged incidents of maternal
deaths are under-r