Stakeholders stress on separate law regarding abortion

Representatives of government and non-government organisations have stressed on for enacting separate law on safe and legal abortion.

Speaking at the policy dialogue on ' global Day of action for access to safe and legal abortion' organised by Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Coalition Nepal in Kathmandu Friday, they said that the existing law regarding abortion was not sufficient.

Representative of Health Ministry Dr. Silu Aryal claimed that the government was serious towards safe and legal abortion.

Dr. Indira Basnet, Country director of IPAS, a global nongovernmental organisation working in unsafe abortion said that the existing law was not sufficient although it has contributed to decrease the maternal mortality rate.

Executive Director of Youth Action Nepal, Bishnu Khatri stressed on the need for raising awareness to the youth about the safe and legal abortion.

The government had mentioned about legal provision on abortion under a chapter of separate law in 2002.

According to the Health Ministry, the ministry has already established 543 safe abortion centers in 75 districts and 95,306 persons received the safe abortion service in 2010/2011. Nepalnews.com