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NEPAL LEGALIZES ABORTION IN RESPONSE TO UNITED NATIONS DEMANDS

Bill to Give Women Human Rights Also Strips Unborn Children of Right To Life

KHATMANDU, March 15, 2002 (LSN.ca) - The Nepali House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday which legalized abortion in the country for the first time.

While the House passed similar legislation last year, it was rejected by the Upper House. However, since the House passed the legislation a second time with over a 50% majority it was declared passed. The bill passed the 205-member House 147-1 with 56 lawmakers absent.

Portions of the law are commendable and afford women the previously denied right to inherit parental property and also banned child marriage and polygamy. However the law also legalizes abortion on demand of unborn girls and boys up to twelve weeks gestation, stipulating that it should be done with the husband's consent and by government authorized abortionists. The bill also allows abortion up to 18 weeks in cases of rape or incest.

Last year, just two months prior to the House's first passage of the bill, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights explicitly demanded Nepal to legalize abortion. Although the UN claims it does not promote abortions in countries where the practice is against the law, on August 31, 2001, it did just that. In its Concluding Observations of the Committee on Nepal, the UN Committee states, "The Committee urges the State party to take remedial action to address the problems of clandestine abortions, unwanted pregnancies and the high rate of maternal mortality. In this regard, the Committee urges the State party to reinforce reproductive and sexual health programmes, in particular in rural areas, and to allow abortion when pregnancies are life threatening or a result of rape or ncest."

See related LifeSite coverage:
UN EXPLICITLY DEMANDS ABORTION RIGHTS IN NEPAL
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/sept/010912.html

See the coverage in the Khatmandu Post:
http://www.kantipuronline.com/kpost_html/kp_frontpg.htm (today only)

To be archived at:
http://www.kantipuronline.com/archive/kpost/2002-3-15/kp_frontpg.htm

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