N.Y. Abortion Rights Group Criticizes Nepal
Mar 21, 2002 7:43 am US/Eastern
KATMANDU, Nepal -- A New York abortion rights group demanded on Thursday that the Nepalese government release all women in jail for having abortions or performing them.
Abortion is illegal in Nepal, although midwives perform the procedure clandestinely, resulting in a high mortality rate for pregnant women.
To reduce the number of deaths of women and allow doctors to perform abortions, Parliament approved a bill last week that would make most abortions legal. It will become law once King Gyanandra approves it, which is considered a formality.
The law does not address women already serving sentences of one year to life in prison for abortion-related convictions. At least 65 such women are imprisoned, the Nepal-based Forum for Women, Law and Development said in a study released Thursday.
( Read more... )