N, who wants to remain anonymous, nurses her young son at her in-laws house where she lives in Janakpur, Nepal, July 9, 2017. N was raped by her husband's friend when she first was married five years ago, and became pregnant after the rape, but didn't know if was from her husband or the rapist. She wanted to keep the child, but her family didn't want her to, and her mother-in-law demanded she use a homeopathic method to abort the baby. She ate papayas for three days which she insists made her have an abortion. She wasn't aware that abortion was legal in Nepal and feels bad about it because she feels that she killed a life. She now has a newborn with her husband who works most of the year in Saudi Arabia. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Ramshakhi Dev, age 32, left, sits with her youngest child, Bibek, age 7, in their village Hariharpur 10, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 7, 2017. Dev had an abortion after getting pregnant again for the fifth time. She wasn't using contraception because her husband lives abroad and after she realized she was pregnant she went to a pharmacy and got the pills. She took them, without complication, but there was no follow up after the abortion. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Ramshakhi Dev, age 32, second right, stands with her youngest child, Bibek, age 7, left, and her eldest daughter Mamata, age 18, at the entrance to their home in their village Hariharpur 10, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 7, 2017. Dev had an abortion after getting pregnant again for the fifth time. She wasn't using contraception because her husband lives abroad and after she realized she was pregnant she went to a pharmacy and got the pills. She took them, without complication, but there was no follow up after the abortion. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Punam Dev, age 19, left, leaves Dr. Panakaj Pratap Deo's medical clinic, as her baby is held by her mother, and exits behind her, in Janakpur, Nepal, July 6, 2017. Dev, who was married at 16 and already has one daughter, came to Dr. Deo's clinic because she was 14 weeks pregnant and wanted to find out if she was having a boy or a girl. When she found out she was having a girl, she decided to abort, even though abortion is only legal up until 12 weeks in Nepal -- she and her husband don't want another baby girl that they will have to provide a dowry for. Dr. Deo is a doctor in a private hospital, but his clinic isn't legally authorized to provide abortion services. When asked whether he feared any problems with the police, he laughed out loud and said that was a silly question. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Shrigana Karka, 43, goes over homework with one of the girls staying at Aawaj Nepal, her NGO for women's rights and a home for abused girls, in Charikot, Dolakha region, Nepal, July 15, 2017. Karka has been an advocate for women's rights for her entire career. She founded Aawaj five years ago and they provide counseling, help with legal and health services, and a safe house if a girl can't go back to her family. Karka also fought to have abortion legalized in Nepal and has been speaking out about women's rights since she was 12 years old. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Shrigana Karka, 43, comforts a child that is from one of the women staying at Aawaj Nepal, her NGO for women's rights and a home for abused girls, in Charikot, Dolakha region, Nepal, July 15, 2017. Karka has been an advocate for women's rights for her entire career. She founded Aawaj five years ago and they provide counseling, help with legal and health services, and a safe house if a girl can't go back to her family. Karka also fought to have abortion legalized in Nepal and has been speaking out about women's rights since she was 12 years old. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Pabitra devi Mahato, 35, left, holds her youngest son, Shikindar, age 5, after she got home from working in the fields, in the village of Hariharpur, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 8, 2017. Mahato has three kids and suffers from uterine prolapse. She was getting injections for contraception, but she missed one and became pregnant. She decided to terminate the pregnancy, and went to a local clinic who charged her 1,500 Nepali Rupees which is an a very high price, and is more than Mahato makes in four days as a farmer. She had no idea that contraception and abortion services were now free in Nepal. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Pabitra Devi Mahato, 35, searches for a document in her house, in the village of Hariharpur, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 8, 2017. Mahato has three kids and suffers from uterine prolapse. She was getting injections for contraception, but she missed one and became pregnant. She decided to terminate the pregnancy, and went to a local clinic who charged her 1,500 Nepali Rupees which is an a very high price, and is more than Mahato makes in four days as a farmer. She had no idea that contraception and abortion services were now free in Nepal. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Pabitra Devi Mahato, 35, top, washes the face of her youngest child, Shikindar, age 5, as her daughter Sanjita, 15, washes dishes, in their house, in the village of Hariharpur, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 8, 2017. Mahato has three kids and suffers from uterine prolapse. She was getting injections for contraception, but she missed one and became pregnant. She decided to terminate the pregnancy, and went to a local clinic who charged her 1,500 Nepali Rupees which is an a very high price, and is more than Mahato makes in four days as a farmer. She had no idea that contraception and abortion services were now free in Nepal. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Pabitra devi Mahato, 35, right, watches as Laxminiya Chaudhari, a social worker, talks to her son, Shikindar, age 5, in front of their house, in the village of Hariharpur, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 8, 2017. Mahato has three kids and suffers from uterine prolapse. She was getting injections for contraception, but she missed one and became pregnant. She decided to terminate the pregnancy, and went to a local clinic who charged her 1,500 Nepali Rupees which is an a very high price, and is more than Mahato makes in four days as a farmer. She had no idea that contraception and abortion services were now free in Nepal. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Pabitra Devi Mahato, 35, center, and her youngest child, Shikindar, age 5, stand in front of the door of their house, in the village of Hariharpur, outside Janakpur, Nepal, July 8, 2017. Mahato has three kids and suffers from uterine prolapse. She was getting injections for contraception, but she missed one and became pregnant. She decided to terminate the pregnancy, and went to a local clinic who charged her 1,500 Nepali Rupees which is an a very high price, and is more than Mahato makes in four days as a farmer. She had no idea that contraception and abortion services were now free in Nepal. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Women work in the rice patties on the road from Janakpur to Kathmandu, Nepal, July 9, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman farmer walks between rice patties on the road from Janakpur to Kathmandu, Nepal, July 9, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman works in a field burning trash on the road from Janakpur to Kathmandu, Nepal, July 9, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Sarita Devi Mahara, 17, listens, as women talk to a community health worker in the village of Chandrapur, in the Janakpur district of Nepal, July 8, 2017. Sarita was married two years ago and is 7 months pregnant with her first child. She and other local women attended a workshop last year in her village that was held by a local health volunteer who came to speak about contraception, abortion, and general issues for women's health. She learned about contraception and abortion, and wanted to have a baby, but plans on using contraception to make sure there is space between her children. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Sharmi Devi Mahara, age 25 sits with her son, age 3, and local women as they talk to a community health worker and a nurse in the village of Chandrapur, in the Janakpur district of Nepal, July 8, 2017. Sharmi has two kids, and is four months pregnant with her third child. She wanted to abort her current pregnancy but her in-laws won't allow her to. Sharmi and other local women attended a workshop last year in her village that was held by a local health volunteer who came to speak about contraception, abortion, and general issues for women's health. She learned about contraception and abortion, and felt freer to talk about it with other women, but hasn't used any of the methods yet. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Bachhi Thakur, age 26, left, sits with her husband Pravastha Kur, age 34, center, and plays with their daughter, age 12, in their home, in the town of Sindhulitole, near in Bhimdatta, formerly known as Mahendranagar Janakpur district of Nepal, July 8, 2017. Five days ago Bachhi ended her pregnancy using an abortion pill. She had her husband decided they couldn't financially support another child. When she found out she was pregnant she was at the hospital and the nurse told her if she didn't want the baby, she could have a medical abortion. She personally feels bad and that abortion is wrong, but she needed to do it. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Bachhi Thakur, age 26, left, sits with her husband Pravastha Kur, age 34, center, and their youngest son,age 5, in their home, in the town of Sindhulitole, near in Bhimdatta, formerly known as Mahendranagar, Janakpur district of Nepal, July 8, 2017. Five days ago Bachhi ended her pregnancy using an abortion pill. She had her husband decided they couldn't financially support another child. When she found out she was pregnant she was at the hospital and the nurse told her if she didn't want the baby, she could have a medical abortion. She personally feels bad and that abortion is wrong, but she needed to do it. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman poses with the pills that a woman takes for a medical abortion, in Bhimdatta, formerly known as Mahendranagar, in the Janakpur district of Nepal, July 9, 2017. Dr. Singh told us that he was legally certified by the government, and although he no longer does abortions, he is licensed to do so. He also said he received his medical degrees from Nepal and Canada. We looked up his information and found that although he was abortion certified, the information he posted about his doctor's license was misleading. In the government database we couldn't find any information about his Nepalese or Canadian degree, and instead it says he got his degree from Russia, which makes his story a lot more questionable. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Empty beds are seen in the Dr. Ram Ekbal Singh's clinic, in Bhimdatta, formerly known as Mahendranagar, in the Janakpur district of Nepal, July 9, 2017. Dr. Singh told us that he was legally certified by the government, and although he no longer does abortions, he is licensed to do so. He also said he received his medical degrees from Nepal and Canada. We looked up his information and found that although he was abortion certified, the information he posted about his doctor's license was misleading. In the government database we couldn't find any information about his Nepalese or Canadian degree, and instead it says he got his degree from Russia, which brings into question the rest of his information. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Dr. Ram Ekbal Singh, center, treats a patient with a high fever, in Bhimdatta, formerly known as Mahendranagar, in the Janakpur district of Nepal, July 9, 2017. Dr. Singh told us that he was legally certified by the government to perform abortions, he no longer does them but only provides aftercare.He also said he received his medical degrees from Nepal and Canada. We looked up his information and found that although he was abortion certified, the information he posted about his doctor's license was misleading. In the government database we couldn't find any information about his Nepalese or Canadian degree, and instead it says he got his degree from Russia, which brings into question the rest of his information. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Bishna Sapkota, age 52, leaves the home of a new mother, in the village of Bhimeshwor near Charikot, Dolakha region, Nepal, July 16, 2017. She gave the mom some medicine for diarrhea and then gave the baby a checkup. She realized the baby was jaundice so she told the mother to take him to the clinic soon. Sapkota is a volunteer health worker and goes around to local communities to visit people who are sick or have just given birth. She holds small women's groups once a month in each area and informs women about their choices. She also didn't know what abortion had been made free at the public hospitals. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Bishna Sapkota, age 52, right, visits Sanjita Nepali, 24 center who had her second child recently, in a small village of Bhimeshwor near Charikot, Dolakha region, Nepal, July 16, 2017. She gave the mom some medicine for diarrhea and then gave the baby a checkup. She realized the baby was jaundice so she told the mother to take him to the clinic soon. Sapkota is a volunteer health worker and goes around to local communities to visit people who are sick or have just given birth. She holds small women's groups once a month in each area and informs women about their choices. She also didn't know what abortion had been made free at the public hospitals.(Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Bishna Sapkota, age 52, not seen, visits Sanjita Nepali, 24, right, who had her second child recently, in a small village of Bhimeshwor near Charikot, Dolakha region, Nepal, July 16, 2017. Sapkota gave the mom some medicine for diarrhea and then gave the baby a checkup. She realized the baby was jaundice so she told the mother to take him to the clinic soon. Sapkota is a volunteer health worker and goes around to local communities to visit people who are sick or have just given birth. She holds small women's groups once a month in each area and informs women about their choices. She also didn't know that abortion had been recently made free at the public hospitals. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Bishna Sapkota, age 52, right, looks at the 18 day old son of Sanjita Nepali, 24, not seen at her home, in a small village of Bhimeshwor near Charikot, Dolakha region, Nepal, July 16, 2017. Sapkota gave the baby a checkup and realized he was jaundice so she told the mother to take him to the clinic as soon as possible. She is a volunteer health worker and goes around to local communities where she visits women who have just given birth. In addition to checking in on new mothers, she holds small women's groups once a month in each area and informs women about their reproductive choices. Yet, even she didn't know what abortion had been made free at the public hospitals since January. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman is seen in labor as she sits against a wall with black mold on it, at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 10, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
The surgery room of the public women's clinic where permanent family planning methods are implemented - tubal ligation for women and vasectomies for men, in the Janakpur Zonal Hospital, Janakpur, Nepal, July 6, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman is seen outside of a doctor's office, at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 18, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman who has come in to get an abortion talks, as a sign is seen in the background of a doctor talking to a woman about the abortion procedure, at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 18, 2017. Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Employees at a pharmacy fulfill prescriptions for customers in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 18, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
An employee at a pharmacy fulfills a prescription for a customer in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 18, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
L, a woman who had an abortion two years ago, and didn't want to be identified, poses with her son in the hallway of her house, in Bhimdatta, formerly known as Mahendranagar, in the Janakpur district of Nepal, July 9, 2017. L has one daughter and one son, and is a teacher. When she had the abortion, she took the pills and after 7 days she had a lot of bleeding so she went to a clinic. The nurse told her she had an incomplete abortion and she needed to go the hospital so they could finish the procedure. She doesn't know where the pills came from because her husband got them, and there was no question of aftercare. L doesn't think abortion is good, but she had no choice since both she and her husband work and there is no one to take care of another child.(Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
S, age 28, who is 6 months pregnant poses for a photo behind at a curtain at a cafe in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 12, 2017. S has had abortions four times and would have had another abortion for this pregnancy if she hadn't waited too long. She is a drug addict and her current husband is a drug user too. She tried to use contraception but kept missing the contraception shots. She is still using drugs while pregnant although she says she has cut down to every other day so it doesn't hurt the baby as much. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Shiba devi Nayak, age 35, center, stands with her husband, Surendra, age 40, second left, and four of their of their daughters, left to right, Khusbu, 14, Megha, 9, Sonali, 12, Pushpa, 16, at the entrance to their small house in Janakpur, Nepal, July 9, 2017. Nayak and her husband had six daughters and their seventh child was a son. They didn't use any contraception beforehand because they wanted to have a boy, but now that they have a son, they are using contraception. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Surendra Nayak, 40, right, sits with three of this seven children, left to right - Khusbu, 14, Pushpa, 16, and Megha, 9, inside their small house in Janakpur, Nepal, July 9, 2017. Nayak and his wife had six daughters and their seventh child was a son. They didn't use any contraception beforehand because they wanted to have a boy, but now that they have a son, they are using contraception.. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman sleeps next to her newborn child, as she recuperates after giving birth at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 10, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Women cry while in labor at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 10, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
Women cry while in labor at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 10, 2017.. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
A woman cries while in labor at the Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 10, 2017. (Photo Credit/Tara Todras-Whitehill/European Journalism Centre/Vignette Interactive)
