Reproductive rights in Nepal
Nepal is one of the leading jurisdictions in Asia with regard to the constitutionalisation of sexual and reproductive health rights as socio-economic rights. This framework aims to offer access to legal and safe abortion services for all Nepali citizens, while placing an obligation on the State to provide these services.
The new and expansive interpretation of these rights is presented in a series of Supreme Court judicial decisions including the ground-breaking Lakshmi case that has captured media headlines around the world.
Sexual and reproductive health rights are embedded within the constitutional and legal framework and may encompass issues such as access to and the right to abortion, contraception, maternal health, surrogacy, sterilisation, and, in some contexts, the right to education to support informed reproductive decision-making. While Nepal features an impressive array of socio-economic rights relative to reproductive and sexual health, their implementation remains uneven and often ineffective – especially for poor and historically marginalised groups, and in the more remote areas of the country.