Executive Summary
In the heart of Nepal’s Morang District, many stories unfold, but some have one common thread- one that touches upon the deeply personal journey of couples struggling with infertility. Through the eyes of women who stand on the frontlines of human rights defense, we explore how this intimate challenge intersects with broader questions of gender equality, healthcare access, and social justice.
Our research, conducted by the Women’s Rehabilitation Center (WOREC) Nepal, delves into a reality many faces but few openly discuss. While Nepal has made strides in reproductive healthcare, infertility remains a shadow in the corner—acknowledged but rarely addressed. Through conversations with women human rights defenders (WHRDs), we uncover how this silence affects lives, particularly those of women who bear the weight of social expectations and stigma.
The picture that emerges in this research is complex and often heart-wrenching. We found that even those who champion women’s rights sometimes struggle to recognize infertility as a crucial reproductive health issue. This gap in awareness reflects a broader pattern where women’s reproductive health needs often go unaddressed, leaving many without the information and support they desperately need.
Perhaps most striking is how infertility becomes a lens through which gender inequality comes into sharp focus. Women facing infertility often find themselves navigating a maze of social judgment and sometimes even violence. When a couple cannot conceive, it’s frequently the woman who faces blame – even in cases where medical issues lie with her partner. This burden becomes even heavier for women from disadvantaged backgrounds, who find themselves caught between the high costs of fertility treatments and the social pressure to bear children.
The challenges extend deep into Nepal’s healthcare and legal systems. The absence of clear regulations around assisted reproduction and surrogacy creates a dangerous void where exploitation can flourish. Women seeking fertility treatments often walk a dangerous path, with neither legal protections to shield them nor emotional support to guide them. For those from marginalized communities, these barriers can seem insurmountable, creating a two-tiered system where reproductive justice becomes a privilege rather than a right.
Our findings compel us to move beyond simply identifying problems to proposing concrete solutions. We envision a comprehensive approach that includes:
- Making fertility treatments and family counseling accessible to all, regardless of economic status
- Developing clear legal frameworks to protect women undergoing assisted reproduction or surrogacy
- Creating support systems that address not just the medical aspects of infertility but also its emotional and psychological impact
- Challenging the patriarchal mindset that places the burden of reproduction solely on women’s shoulders
Looking ahead, we see the path to change requiring action on multiple fronts. It’s not enough to merely medicalize infertility – we must transform how society views and supports women facing these challenges. This means ensuring that reproductive healthcare policies are grounded in principles of equality and justice, with particular attention to those who have been historically excluded from these conversations.
The story of infertility in Nepal is, at its core, a story about power, gender, and justice. Our research shows that actual progress will only come when we address all three elements. We call for a future where women have not just the medical resources they need but also the social support and legal protections to make informed choices about their reproductive health without fear or constraint.
This journey toward reproductive justice requires us to reimagine healthcare systems, challenge deep-rooted social norms, and create spaces where women’s experiences are heard and valued. Only then can we build a Nepal where reproductive rights are not just written in policy documents but lived in the daily experiences of all women, particularly those who have been pushed to the margins of society.
In sharing these findings, we hope to spark a broader dialogue about reproductive justice in Nepal
– one that recognizes infertility not just as a medical condition but as a human rights issue that deserves our full attention and commitment to change. The path forward requires collective action, sustained commitment, and a willingness to challenge the status quo in pursuit of a more just and equitable future for all women.