NIC: 30 Years Since Sandinista Revolution

AUGUST 20, 2008 - MANAGUA, NICARAGUA: A group of "child mothers" pose with their babies for a photo in front of a mural of an idylic landscape to mask their shatered childhoods. They all live in a "Casa Alianza", a refuge for "ninas madres", child mothers as they are known. One of the girls, who told her story, is from the northwest of the country. She, like most other girls, suffered sexual abuse in the family home from fathers, step fathers and other family members. Girls as young as 12 live in this refuge run by the NGO "Casa Alianza" due to their family history of sexual abuse, domestic violence, premature pregnancy. A total of 12 girls and their babies can live in the refuge, generally for a period of up to 24 months, whilst the refuge's administration attempt to broker a return to their family environments. In the centre they get full medical and psycological attention, as well as all their food, living needs and they get religious guidance and in general they have all their needs provided for them whilst they learn to cope with the sexual violence and abuse they have lived through, as well as learning to cope with bringing into the world their new born baby. The girls range from 12-18 years of age. This refuge is the only one of its kind in Nicaragua and addresses a truly urgent need in this ultra-catholic country which has outlawed abortion under the present Sandinista-run Daniel Ortega government. (Photo by Christopher Pillitz/Edit by Getty Images)