TAKE ACTION!
Abortion in Nepal Legal but Women Still Imprisoned

Please TAKE ACTION to support the release of Women in Prison in Nepal. Despite the legalization of abortion in Nepal last September, 50 women remain imprisoned on abortion and related offences.

Quoting Sapana Pradhan Malla, Chief of Forum for Women, Law and Development, "As the new legislation does not have the provision for retrospective affect, it will apply only to the new cases." The women, most of who are illiterate, poor, and have suffered miscarriage or stillborn births, continue to serve harsh sentences under charges of "infanticide."

Nepal has the 4th highest maternal death rate in the world -- 539 out of 100,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications. The United Nations estimates that 50% of these women die from illegal abortions. The global gag rule in part may hinder the provision of much-needed safe abortion services in Nepal. Many of the organizations serving poor and rural women will face a tough decision between accepting US funds and meeting this particular health need.

SAMPLE LETTER

Email letter to: nepalpetition@crlp.org

Office of the Prime Minister
Singha Durbar
Kathmandu, Nepal

To the Prime Minister of Nepal:

I applaud His Majesty's Government of Nepal for taking a bold step to advance women's health and human rights by decriminalizing abortion on September 26, 2002.

More women die of pregnancy related causes in Nepal than in nearly any other country in the world; almost half of these deaths are due to unsafe abortion. The new law should go a long way toward saving women's lives.

This measure clearly demonstrates your commitment to women's human rights. I urge you to extend this commitment to the women who are currently serving extended sentences in prison for abortion and related offences. There are today over fifty such women in prisons across Nepal and until they are released, they will continue to be denied their basic human rights.

Justice demands that the government of Nepal take steps to release these women from prison immediately and let them live with dignity and respect.

Sincerely,

Barbara Anello
Acting chair
DAWN Ontario
975 McKeown Ave., Unit 5A, Suite 162
North Bay, ON P1B 9P2
705.494.9078
anello@thot.net
http://dawn.thot.net

Please share with others in your respective networks

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 7:41 PM

Support the Release of Women in Prison in Nepal!
http://www.reproductiverights.org/pub_bo_nepal.html

Act now! The fate of over 50 Nepali women is uncertain. Six months after the Government of Nepal decriminalized abortion, women are continuing to serve prison sentences for abortion and related offences. These women have been tried and convicted with utter disregard for their rights to equality and due process and are living under appalling and inhumane conditions where they lack proper medical services and sufficient food.

They have been arbitrarily denied their freedom and other basic human rights and this injustice must be stopped now. You can make a difference! Please take urgent action for the immediate release of these women, by signing your name to the petition. Your actions will help these women finally live with human dignity and respect.

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Page last updated April 18, 2003