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Monday, November 8, 2010

Spain's 10-Year-Old Mum: Family Are 'Happy'

A mother whose 10-year-old daughter has given birth to a baby has said the family are "very happy" despite an international outcry.
The woman, who gave her name only as Olimpia, said she was surprised the birth of her granddaughter in Spain had made headlines around the world.

"She's doing well and is very happy with her daughter," she said of her child, Eleanor, and new granddaughter Nicoletta.

The woman, who Spanish authorities have described as a Romanian gypsy, told reporters the baby's father is a 13-year-old.

He lives in Romania and the young couple have since split up, she added.

Olimpia has been photographed shielding 10-year-old Eleanor from the cameras in the street in Spain.

Eleanor and newborn Nicoletta are living with their family while social services investigate.

Olimpia told reporters in the southern town of Lebrija that it is traditional for Romanian girls to have unofficial wedding ceremonies when they are very young even though they are not recognised by the state.

"That's the way we get married," she said.

The Spanish authorities have not released many details about the girl to protect her privacy. It is understood she moved to the country in the last month.

Spain considers sex with someone under the age of 13 child abuse. But an anonymous official from the country's Justice Ministry said it was not yet clear if the boy can be charged as he is only 13 and in Romania.

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