Story highlights The case of an 11-year-old pregnant girl has become a lightning rod in the abortion debate

The girl's mother she tried to denounce abuse, but the case was dismissed

Accusations of child neglect against her are "unjust," the mother says

Asunción, Paraguay (CNN) Long before the case of a pregnant child in Paraguay who was allegedly raped by her stepfather drew international attention and became the latest lightning rod in the abortion debate, the girl's mother says she went to authorities asking for help.

"I was the one who reported all of this, asking for justice to be done and hoping that something would be done, but prosecutors dismissed the case," the mother told CNN en Español in an exclusive interview Thursday. "Otherwise, this would have never gotten to this point."

It was November 2013 when she first reported the abuse, according to the mother, who CNN is not identifying in compliance with Paraguayan laws protecting the alleged victims of abuse.

Now, her 11-year-old daughter is pregnant. The mother is accused of child neglect and complicity. And the stepfather is behind bars, accused of rape.

In her first interview with an international media organization, the mother said the charges against her are false, and the view the public has of her simply isn't true.

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