Safe Abortion Matters

A pregnancy is not always a cause for celebration for every woman. There are cases in which a pregnancy has become an acute medical, psychological and social problem especially if there was a detection of severe foetal malformation or pregnancy due to rape or incest among other factors that are out of a woman’s hands. In these situations, access to abortion is mandatory for a woman’s health and dignity. An important step had been taken in Nepal more than two decades ago when the government legalised abortion under certain conditions. However, legal approval of abortion services did not guarantee easy access to them. Women still face uncertainties in the law, obstacles in the process, insufficient services and social stigma.