China's family planning policy, lack of sex education to blame for rise in abortions among single women

In this Washington Times opinion piece, Chai Ling, president of the non-profit group All Girls Allowed and author of "A Heart for Freedom," examines the issue of abortions performed on single women in China in relation to the country's family planning policy, which in most provinces requires couples to be married to obtain a birth permit, without which they are not permitted to have a child. She writes, "Though the problem of skyrocketing abortion rates among single Chinese women has been highlighted by the media and attributed to a lack of sex education, no one has connected the problem to this tragic equation: no marriage certificate, no birth permit. No birth permit, no baby. Millions of unmarried women in China get pregnant, but none is allowed to give birth to her baby."

Ling reflects on her personal experience, writing, "The first time I became pregnant, I was forced to abort ... After my traumatic experience at the clinic, no information was given to me about how to avoid a similar situation in the future." She concludes, "Chinese officials attribute the widespread use of abortion to a low level of sex education among young people. However, from examining the skyrocketing abortion rates since 1980, it is clear that the one-child policy is to blame. Clearly, the combination of both evils has created a massive problem."