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Lessons from the
Field
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India
Laws have been passed in India to prohibit sex-selective abortion. But a broader campaign is needed to address this and other harmful practices that are rooted in a cultural preference for sons and influenced by social and economic factors. |
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Legal action b y itself is not enough to eliminate harmful tr aditional
pr actices. To be ef fective, legislation should be part of a broad and integrated
campaign that involves opinion makers and custodians of culture. In the case
of sex-selective abortion, the campaign should also address structural issues
underlying gender discrimination, in particular a widespread preference for
sons.
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The effective dissemination of research findings can bring controversial
issues to national attention. In India, research informed an understanding
of sex-selective abortion not only as a cultural issue, but one with social
and economic dimensions.
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Confronting harmful practices that are national in scope can best be addressed
through a broad coalition of actors, each of whom can bring their own expertise
in creating awareness and moving the issue forward.
Read the full case study
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