Nepal Legalizes Abortion, Bans Child Abuse

Originally published by The Associated Press, September 28, 2002

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A law approved by King Gyanendra has legalized most abortions in Nepal, where women who ended their pregnancies used to face prison terms.

The law also makes sexual abuse of children a crime and allows women to inherit property from their parents.

Previously, there was no law against sexual abuse of children in Nepal; the new statute makes it punishable by prison terms up to 16 years.

Hundreds of Nepalese women die each year from unsafe abortions, and women's rights advocates say they hope the new law will reduce the mortality rate.

The law, which took effect Thursday, "is a major achievement in the fight to end gender discrimination against women in Nepal," said Chitra Lekha Yadav, the deputy parliament speaker.

Parliament passed the legislation in March, almost four years after it was introduced.

Nepal has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Asia. The World Health Organization estimates the rate of maternal deaths in childbirth at 15 for every 1,000 live births.

Under the new law, women may have abortions up to 12 weeks into pregnancy, and up to 18 weeks in case of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest.

Abortions would be allowed at any time if pregnancy posed a danger to the health of the woman or if tests showed severe birth defects.

Under the old law, all abortions were prohibited, and violations were punishable by prison terms of three years to life.

© 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.