Jun 21, 2025
The Legislative Committee of the National Council’s recent recommendation to amend Bhutan’s abortion law marks a notable, progressive yet insufficient step toward a just and effective legal framework for reproductive rights. The proposed amendment, which would permit abortion in cases of severe fetal abnormality, acknowledges the medical and emotional realities faced by families, but it does not address the full scope of necessary reform. The current Penal Code, under Sections 146 to 148, criminalizes abortion except when the mother’s life is at risk or in cases of rape, incest, or mental incapacity. This restrictive policy has resulted in women seeking unsafe, illegal abortions across the border country, thereby endangering lives and undermining the very sanctity the law intends to protect.
Continued: https://kuenselonline.com/news/bridging-the-gap-in-demography-through-better-adoption-policy