China Forced Abortions

Forced Abortions, along with gender-based abortions, have been officially banned by the Chinese Government. Despite this, cases of coerced abortions still appear, mostly from the countryside. Analysts believe that the persistence of forced abortions, in spite of the government ban, is the result of pressures placed on local officials to meet population control requirements established by the central government. Tax collection and compliance with population quotas remain the two most important activities under consideration during performance reviews of local officials. Since the adoption of the One Child Policy in 1978, China's population growth has slowed considerably and many question whether population restrictions are still necessary.

Fast Facts

1. The Chinese Government has been slowly loosening the restrictions of its One Child Policy
2. Forced Abortion, gender-based abortion, and other coercive contraception methods have been banned in China
3. Local officials are judged based on their enforcement of the One Child Policy
4. Pressure to show compliance has led to the continued application of coercive contraception methods by local officials, especially in rural provinces

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