Rights activists have stepped-up lobbying to get the 11th Amendment of the Muluki Ain (Civil Code) through parliament in the 19th session. Among other things, the Amendment seeks to legalise abortion, and grant women equal claim to parental property. Parliament's Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs committee held a series of meetings in all 14 zones of the country soliciting opinion on how to handle the Bill.

The clause to legalise abortion did not have many opponents in the districts, though some groups want the entire law, including the abortion clause, to be put up for a referendum. A 1997 study by the Centre for Research on Environment, Health and Population Activities (CREHPA) found that 20 percent of all women in prisons were serving terms for abortion and infanticide, which, though illegal, are common at private clinics.

CREHPA studies (1998 and 1999) show that between 20 and 60 percent of all obstetric and gynaecological admissions in hospitals were complications due to attempted abortion. CREHPA says the law prevents safe abortion, but does not prevent it being done illegally, which makes it a major cause of death among young mothers. The bill is likely to be tabled in parliament's on-going session-if the House actually meets. It didn't for almost a week after opening 8 February.