SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The mother of a teenage girl who died after doctors in the Dominican Republic delayed treating her for cancer because she was pregnant is challenging the country’s strict abortion ban.

Civil society groups, including a Christian organisation, joined the challenge, arguing that the ban violates the rights to life, health, dignity, and equality, and that such protections should be extended to pregnant girls and women.

The challenge was filed on Wednesday in the country’s Constitutional Court.