KATHMANDU: Various speakers have pointed out the need to strengthen right to reproductive health in the country.
Speaking at an event organised on the occasion of 25 years since the introduction of safe abortion services in Nepal, they said the provision of reproductive health rights as stipulated in Article 38 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal should be realized. The event held on Friday was hosted by Forum for Women, Law and Development and Center for Reproductive Rights.
On the occasion, former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha said that the Supreme Court has established the notion that even women without money should get safe abortion services. He said that the availability of safe abortion services should be ensured for those who need them.
Head of the family welfare division of the Ministry of Health and Population, Gauri Pradhan, shared that 3,000 people have been trained to perform abortions up to twelve weeks. There are 1,700 centers providing medical abortion services across the country.
Executive Director of the FWLD, Sabin Shrestha, emphasized that women’s lives should be protected by revising the policy that currently allows abortion up to 28 weeks only in limited circumstances.
On that occasion, Clara Rita, who is working for women’s reproductive rights and health rights in the Philippines and Anubha Rastogi, an independent legal practitioner from India, and others informed about the provisions related to safe abortion services in their respective countries.