In Nepal, even after 22 years of legal recognition of abortion, the number of women having unsafe abortions has not decreased. A two-day event in Kathmandu, organized jointly by ‘IPAS Nepal’ and the ‘Women, Law and Development Forum,’ highlighted the increasing number of women undergoing unsafe abortions. Despite legal rights, there remains a lack of awareness and safe access to abortion services for many women, especially in rural areas.
Lawyer Navin Shrestha explained that the 2015 Constitution of Nepal recognizes reproductive health as a fundamental right. The law permits women to have an abortion within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, abortion is allowed up to 28 weeks in special cases. However, many women are still unaware of their legal rights regarding abortion.
Amit Timilsina from IPAS Nepal shared that only 42% of women have information about safe abortion services, while 58% of women are unaware of such options. He pointed out that rural areas have a higher rate of unsafe abortions compared to urban areas. Timilsina emphasized the need for both government bodies and the media to increase awareness about reproductive health and safe abortion practices.
Nirmala Sharma, the president of the Journalists’ Federation, stressed that women in areas with easy access to safe abortion services are more likely to use them. She pointed out the critical role of the media in raising awareness by reporting on reproductive health issues and helping women understand their rights.
Sharma also highlighted that social values and beliefs around reproductive health have not changed much, which contributes to the rising number of unsafe abortions. In many cases, women resort to dangerous methods, such as herbal medicine or physical interventions, to terminate pregnancies. This issue is particularly common in cases of unwanted pregnancies.
Senior Advocate Sabin Shrestha, Executive Director of the Women Development and Law Forum, discussed the gap between legal provisions and implementation. While the Safe Motherhood Act exists, its practical application remains inadequate. He also mentioned that 15% of women in Nepal experience infertility and that Nepal ranks third in South Asia for child marriage. Dr. Deepa Shrestha from IPAS Nepal added that the organization has been advocating for women’s reproductive health and rights for the past 15 years.