Claiming the Right to Safe Abortion
Bridging the gap between progressive laws and community access.
Supported by Women Fund Asia (WFA) & Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal.
Mahila Janachetana Kendra (MJK), in partnership with Women Fund Asia (WFA) and the Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC) Nepal, is dedicated to ensuring that reproductive health rights are not just legal on paper, but accessible in practice. This initiative focuses on breaking the barriers of stigma and misinformation that prevent young women from accessing safe and legal abortion services in Nepal.
The Context
The Government of Nepal has taken progressive steps by adopting the Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Act. However, a significant gap remains between legislation and implementation.
Our research highlights critical barriers:
- Lack of Awareness: Many women and youth remain unaware of the legality of safe abortion services in Nepal.
- Abortion Stigmatization: Deeply rooted social attitudes and beliefs negatively affect how women access reproductive care.
- Provider Bias: Stigmatization among healthcare service providers often prevents young people and women from attaining the safe services they are legally entitled to.
Project Objectives
To address these challenges, MJK focuses on three core pillars of intervention:
- Information & Value Clarification: Providing accurate information regarding abortion and facilitating “Value Clarification” sessions to reduce internal and external stigma.
- Knowledge Impartment: Educating women on the current legal landscape and the safe abortion situation across Nepal to ensure informed decision-making.
- Community Dialogue: Engaging in public discussions to tackle the prevalent social stigmas and discriminatory practices that hinder reproductive rights.
Partners & Affiliations
This project is a collaborative effort reflecting MJK's role in national and international networks:
Grantee/Lead: Mahila Janachetana Kendra (MJK)
Supported by: Women Fund Asia (WFA)
Technical Collaboration: Beyond Beijing Committee (BBC), Nepal
