Nepal Legalizes Abortion Under UN Pressure

KATHMANDU, Oct 18, 01 (CWNews.com/LSN.ca) - Less than two months after being told to do so by the United Nations, Nepal's parliament has, for the first time, voted to legalize abortion.

Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved the 11th Amendment to the Civil Code allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest up to 10 weeks into the pregnancy and abortion at any time where pregnancy poses any danger to the physical or mental health of the mother or if the child will be disabled.

Agence France Presse reported that the vote was 112-92. According to the bill, a woman's husband or guardian must give consent for the abortion in all cases. Parliamentary officials suggested that the bill would pass the Upper House and be signed by King Gyanendra within two months.

A UN committee document explicitly demanded Nepal legalize abortion. Although the UN claims it does not promote abortions in countries where the practice is against the law, on August 31, the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights 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 programs, in particular in rural areas, and to allow abortion when pregnancies are life threatening or a result of rape or incest."

CWN - Catholic World News
18. oktober 2001