On September 28, Ipas Bolivia and the Ombudsman’s Office held an event in La Paz titled “Presentation and Analysis of Plurinational Constitutional Ruling 0111/2026-S3,” an event that brought together institutions and civil society organizations to analyze the scope of this decision and its relevance to the protection of the rights of girls and adolescents who are victims of sexual violence.
Photo 1. Participants in the room listening to the guest panelists’ remarks
Plurinational Constitutional Ruling 0111/2026-S3, issued in March 2026 by the Plurinational Constitutional Court of Bolivia, stems from the case of an 11-year-old girl who was a victim of sexual violence and expressed her decision to terminate a pregnancy resulting from that violence. The ruling establishes standards for the enhanced protection of children and adolescents who are victims of sexual violence and sets out obligations for the institutions involved in these cases, including ensuring that adequate and understandable information is provided to support decision-making, safeguarding confidentiality, and preventing revictimization.
During the event, the ruling was analyzed from various perspectives, addressing its legal, institutional, and social implications. The event was attended by institutions and organizations, which exchanged important views. on the background, rationale, and implications of the resolution. At the conclusion, the director of Ipas Bolivia, Dr. Malena Morales, emphasized that:
“It is very important to let the public know that the ruling has been issued because it relates to the exercise of the rights of a vulnerable population that is always at risk of rape; (the ruling) is specifically dedicated to all girls and adolescents under the age of 18.”
For his part, Ronald Céspedes Barriga, deputy ombudsman for the protection of generational human rights, gender, and diversity, emphasized the importance of analyzing the ruling based on legal and scientific information, especially given the risks of misinformation or interpretations that stray from its actual content.
Photo 2. Guest panelist and director of Ipas Bolivia, Dr. Malena Morales, delivering a presentation.
The dissemination of this ruling represents an important step toward strengthening awareness and understanding of the rights of girls and adolescents who are victims of sexual violence, as well as toward promoting institutional action based on respect for the rule of law and constitutional guarantees. Furthermore, the event provided an opportunity to recognize the need to continue creating forums for dialogue and analysis regarding the ruling, broadening the discussion to include different sectors of society and helping to ensure that decisions and positions on these issues are based on information, arguments, and an understanding of their legal scope.
