EDITORIAL | Vanishing girls
Summary
Despite legalising abortion to protect women's rights, Nepal faces a significant gender imbalance at birth due to widespread sex-selective abortions, driven by patriarchal norms. The boy-to-girl birth ratio shows a troubling disparity, raising concerns over social and demographic consequences.
Key Points
- Nepal legalised abortion in 2002, reducing unsafe abortions by designating authorised health facilities.
- In fiscal year 2024-25, boys born outnumbered girls by 16.71%, with some provinces showing disparities above 25%.
- Sex-selective abortion and prenatal sex identification are illegal but laws remain largely unenforced with no reported punishments.
- Experts warn the gender imbalance could lead to serious social and demographic problems if not addressed through stricter law enforcement and monitoring.
