Nepal, Jan. 6 -- When the country legalised abortion in 2002, it marked a landmark achievement for Nepali women's reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. It also eliminated the prosecution and imprisonment of women just for terminating unwanted pregnancies. In the past, women would have to resort to abortions performed by unskilled individuals in unsafe environments, which often led to their death. Following the legalisation, unsafe abortion sharply declined as the government designated health facilities for abortion. For instance, in the fiscal year 2024-25 alone, 105,099 women chose abortion through government-authorised health facilities. With this, Nepal appeared 'progressive' in legal reforms that protect women, but when it came to ...