Editing Sex-selective abortion (section)

== Laws, campaigns and policies against sex-selective abortion ==
[[File:Something you wouldn't see in America (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sign in an Indian clinic reading "Prenatal disclosure of sex of foetus is prohibited under law" in English and Hindi]]

=== International ===
The practice of prenatal sex selection has been condemned internationally. It is often seen as a result of discriminatory social views which consider females inferior to males. In 1994 over 180 states signed the Programme of Action of the [[International Conference on Population and Development]], agreeing to "eliminate all forms of discrimination against the girl child".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2011/Preventing_gender-biased_sex_selection.pdf|title=Preventing gender-biased sex selection|publisher=[[UNFPA]]|access-date=November 1, 2011|archive-date=October 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011095023/https://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2011/Preventing_gender-biased_sex_selection.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011 the resolution of [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|PACE]]'s Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men condemned the practice of prenatal sex selection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc11/EDOC12715.pdf|title=Prenatal sex selection|publisher=[[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe|PACE]]|access-date=November 1, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003133834/http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc11/EDOC12715.pdf|archive-date=October 3, 2011}}</ref>

=== By country ===
Many nations have attempted to address sex-selective abortion rates through a combination of media campaigns and policy initiatives.

;Canada
In Canada, a group of MPs led by [[Mark Warawa]] are working on having the [[Parliament of Canada|Parliament]] pass a resolution condemning sex-selective pregnancy termination.<ref>{{cite web| vauthors = Jones N |title=MP takes aim at sex selection|url=http://www.langleytimes.com/news/172874451.html|work=The Langley Times|access-date=October 6, 2012|date=October 6, 2012|archive-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513185217/http://www.langleytimes.com/news/172874451.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Kennedy M | url = http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/26/mp-continues-push-for-sex-selection-abortions-vote-after-motion-rejected/ | title = MP continues push for sex-selection abortions vote after motion rejected | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140825204217/http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/26/mp-continues-push-for-sex-selection-abortions-vote-after-motion-rejected/ | archive-date=August 25, 2014 | work = Postmedia News | date = March 26, 2013 }}</ref>

;USA
The [[United States Congress]] has debated legislation that would outlaw the practice.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/30/politics/house-abortion-gender/index.html | title=House debates abortion ban for sex of fetus | work=CNN Online | date=May 31, 2012 | access-date=May 31, 2010 | archive-date=July 1, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701040147/https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/30/politics/house-abortion-gender/index.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The legislation ultimately failed to pass in the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/us/politics/house-rejects-bill-to-ban-sex-selective-abortions.html?_r=1 | title=House Rejects Bill to Ban Sex-Selective Abortions | work=New York Times | date=May 31, 2012 | access-date=May 31, 2010 | vauthors = Steinhauer J | archive-date=April 20, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420231639/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/us/politics/house-rejects-bill-to-ban-sex-selective-abortions.html?_r=1 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On the state level, laws against sex-selective abortions have been passed in a number of U.S. states;<ref name=christie20130529>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/arizona-abortion-ban-race-sex_n_3355493.html|title=Arizona Race And Sex-Selective Abortion Ban Draws ACLU Lawsuit| vauthors = Christie B | website=[[HuffPost]] |date=May 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530172555/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/29/arizona-abortion-ban-race-sex_n_3355493.html|archive-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref> the law passed in [[Arizona]] in 2011 prohibits both sex-selective and race-selective abortion.<ref name=christie20130529 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2443p.pdf|title=HB 2443: An Act amending Title 13, Chapter 36, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-3603.02; ....|access-date=May 31, 2013|archive-date=August 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812231651/https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/50leg/1r/bills/hb2443p.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/13/03603-02.htm&Title=13&DocType=ARS|title=Arizona Revised Statutes, 13-3603.02. Abortion; sex and race selection; injunctive and civil relief; failure to report; definition|access-date=May 31, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055629/http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/13/03603-02.htm&Title=13&DocType=ARS|url-status=dead | work = Arizona State Legislature }}</ref>

;United Kingdom
The law on sex-selective abortion is unresolved in the United Kingdom. In order for an abortion to be legal, doctors need to show that continuing the pregnancy could threaten the physical or mental health of the mother. In a recent case, two doctors were caught on camera offering a sex-selective abortion but the Director of Public Prosecution deemed it not in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11208011/MPs-vote-to-make-sex-selection-abortion-illegal.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104230502/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/11208011/MPs-vote-to-make-sex-selection-abortion-illegal.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 4, 2014 | title=MPs vote to make sex selection abortion illegal| date=November 4, 2014| vauthors = Graham G }}</ref> Following this incidence, MPs voted 181 to 1 for a Bill put forward by [[Tessa Munt]] and 11 other MPs aiming to end confusion about the legality of this practice.<ref>{{cite web|title=Burnham's MP Tessa Munt backs sex-selection abortion bill|url=http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/11644656.Burnham_s_MP_Tessa_Munt_backs_sex_selection_abortion_bill/|publisher=thewestcountry.co.uk|access-date=January 5, 2015|date=December 5, 2014|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221221/http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/11644656.Burnham_s_MP_Tessa_Munt_backs_sex_selection_abortion_bill/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=UK: Sex-Selective Abortions Voted Illegal By Parliament Members|journal=Gender Selection|issn=2204-3888|url=http://gender-selection.com.au/index.php/component/content/article/19-portfolio/dec-2014-1-1/39-jia-ge?Itemid=0|publisher=gender-selection.com.au|access-date=January 5, 2015|date=December 1, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105103146/http://gender-selection.com.au/index.php/component/content/article/19-portfolio/dec-2014-1-1/39-jia-ge?Itemid=0|archive-date=January 5, 2015}}{{unreliable source?|date=March 2020}}</ref> Organisations such as [[BPAS]] and [[abortion Rights (Organisation)|Abortion Rights]] have been lobbying for the decriminalisation of sex-selective abortions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement on sex-selective abortion|url=http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/statement-on-sex-selective-abortion|publisher=Abortion Rights|access-date=December 9, 2014|date=September 18, 2014|archive-date=September 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911071423/http://www.abortionrights.org.uk/statement-on-sex-selective-abortion/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Statement on sex-selective abortion|url=http://spikedonlinepodcasts.podbean.com/e/on-air-off-message-ann-furedi-on-sex-selective-abortion/|publisher=Spiked.com|access-date=December 12, 2014|date=May 23, 2014|archive-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910220633/http://spikedonlinepodcasts.podbean.com/e/on-air-off-message-ann-furedi-on-sex-selective-abortion/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

;China
China's government has increasingly recognized its role in a reduction of the national sex ratio. As a result, since 2005, it has sponsored a "boys and girls are equal campaign."<ref name=JianSong>{{cite conference | vauthors = Song J |year=2009 |title=Rising sex ratio at birth in China: responses and effects of social policies |conference=International Population Conference |url=http://iussp2009.princeton.edu/papers/91145 |access-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090705/http://iussp2009.princeton.edu/papers/91145 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For example, in 2000, the Chinese government began the "Care for Girls" Initiative.<ref>{{cite web | title = Care For Girls' Gaining Momentum | url = https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-07/08/content_346700.htm | work = China Daily | date = August 7, 2004 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=March 2023}} Furthermore, several levels of government have been modified to protect the "political, economic, cultural, and social" rights of women.<ref name= JianSong /> Finally, the Chinese government has enacted policies and interventions to help reduce the sex ratio at birth. In 2005, sex-selective abortion was made illegal in China. This came in response to the ever-increasing sex ratio and a desire to try to detract from it and reach a more normal ratio.<ref>{{cite journal | year = 2005 | title = China Makes Sex-Selective Abortions a Crime | jstor=3776292| journal = Reproductive Health Matters | volume = 13 | issue = 25| pages = 203 }}</ref> The sex ratio among firstborn children in urban areas from 2000 to 2005 did not rise at all, so there is hope that this movement is taking hold across the nation.<ref name="Junhong_2001" />

UNICEF and UNFPA have partnered with the Chinese government and grassroots-level women's groups such as All China Women's Federation to promote gender equality in policy and practice, as well engage various social campaigns to help lower birth sex ratio and to reduce excess female child mortality rates.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.unicef.cn/en/index.php?c=index&a=lists&catid=135 | title = Gender Equality | archive-url = 
https://web.archive.org/web/20140601045804/http://www.unicef.cn/en/index.php?c=index&a=lists&catid=135 | archive-date=June 1, 2014 | work = UNICEF | date = 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.unfpa.org/gender/docs/sexselectn_china.pdf | title = UNFPA First Agency to Campaign against Sex Selection in China | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120604164913/https://www.unfpa.org/gender/docs/sexselectn_china.pdf | archive-date=June 4, 2012 | work = United Nations Population Fund | date = 2012 }}</ref>

;India
In India, according to a 2007 study by MacPherson, Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT Act) was highly publicized by NGOs and the government. Many of the ads used depicted abortion as violent, creating fear of abortion itself within the population. The ads focused on the religious and moral shame associated with abortion. MacPherson claims this media campaign was not effective because some perceived this as an attack on their character, leading to many becoming closed off, rather than opening a dialogue about the issue.<ref name=macpherson>{{cite journal | vauthors = MacPherson Y |title=Images and icons: harnessing the power of the media to reduce sex-selective abortion in India |journal=Gender & Development |date=November 2, 2007 |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=413–423 |doi=10.1080/13552070701630574 |doi-access=free }}</ref> This emphasis on morality, claims MacPherson, increased fear and shame associated with all abortions, leading to an increase in unsafe abortions in India.<ref name=macpherson />

The government of India, in a 2011 report, has begun better educating all stakeholders about its MTP and PCPNDT laws. In its communication campaigns, it is clearing up public misconceptions by emphasizing that sex determination is illegal, but abortion is legal for certain medical conditions in India. The government is also supporting implementation of programs and initiatives that seek to reduce gender discrimination, including media campaign to address the underlying social causes of sex selection.<ref name="wbhindia">{{cite web | url = http://www.wbhealth.gov.in/download/IMPLEMENTATION%20OF%20THE%20PCPNDT%20ACT%20IN%20INDIA.pdf | title = Implementation of the PCPNDT Act in India – Perspectives and Challenges | work = Public Health Foundation of India | quote = Supported by United Nations FPA | date = 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151023143908/http://www.wbhealth.gov.in/download/IMPLEMENTATION%20OF%20THE%20PCPNDT%20ACT%20IN%20INDIA.pdf | archive-date = October 23, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://jskvrc.gov.in/ipas/2.pdf | title = MTP and PCPNDT Initiatives Report | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140601012501/http://jskvrc.gov.in/ipas/2.pdf | archive-date=June 1, 2014 | work = Government of India | date = 2011 }}</ref>

Other recent policy initiatives adopted by numerous states of India, claims Guilmoto,<ref name=czg /> attempt to address the assumed economic disadvantage of girls by offering support to girls and their parents. These policies provide [[conditional cash transfer]] and scholarships only available to girls, where payments to a girl and her parents are linked to each stage of her life, such as when she is born, completion of her childhood immunization, her joining school at grade 1, her completing school grades 6, 9 and 12, her marriage past age 21. Some states are offering higher pension benefits to parents who raise one or two girls. Different states of India have been experimenting with various innovations in their girl-driven welfare policies. For example, the state of Delhi adopted a pro-girl policy initiative (locally called ''Laadli scheme''), which initial data suggests may be lowering the birth sex ratio in the state.<ref name=czg>{{cite web | vauthors = Guilmoto CZ | url = https://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/Guilmoto_Revised_presentation_Hanoi_Oct2011.pdf | title = Sex imbalances at birth Trends, consequences and policy implications | archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20120604063319/https://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/Guilmoto_Revised_presentation_Hanoi_Oct2011.pdf | archive-date=June 4, 2012 | work = United Nations Population Fund | location = Hanoi | date = October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_wcd/wcd/Home/Delhi+Ladli+Scheme/ | title = Delhi Laadli Scheme | date = 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140708060319/http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_wcd/wcd/Home/Delhi+Ladli+Scheme/ | archive-date = July 8, 2014 | work = Government of Delhi, India }}</ref>