Call for reform in abortion related laws

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, May 13: Chairperson of the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee of the National Assembly (NA), Pooja Chaudhary, stated that abortion services are still not up to quality, universal, accessible, and safe across the country.

Speaking at a discussion programme organised on Wednesday by Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) and Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) on the eve of International Women’s Health Day, Chairperson Chaudhary said that due to lack of education and awareness, women in remote areas are forced to live in fear and anxiety.

Chaudhary said that while incidents of suffering faced by women in society regarding reproductive health issues have decreased, they have not been completely eliminated. Expressing commitment to making services safe, reliable, and accessible, she added:

FWLD and CRR have been advocating and debating for a long time on the issue of quality, universal, accessible, and safe abortion services.

Regional Director of CRR, Pravina Bajracharya, viewed that despite the Safe Motherhood Act, legal complexities still remain. Although illegal abortion has been legalised, she argued that as long as abortion remains under the criminal code, it cannot be considered fully safe and reliable.

She also said that women imprisoned during the period when abortion was illegal have still not been released. According to Bajracharya, much more work remains to be done to separate abortion from the criminal offense code.

A drama was also presented showing the kinds of reproductive health-related incidents that can occur in rural areas due to lack of law, awareness, and education.