How much are fines for sex-selective abortion in Vietnam?

Specifically, according to Article 100 of the Decree No. 117/2020/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, fines for sex-selective abortion are specified as follows:

- A fine ranging from VND 3.000.000 to VND 5.000.000 shall be imposed for voluntarily deciding to have an abortion because of the predicted sex of the infant.

- A fine ranging from VND 5.000.000 to VND 7.000.000 shall be imposed for persuading or inciting a pregnant woman to have an abortion because of the predicted sex of the infant.

- A fine ranging from VND 7.000.000 to VND 10.000.000 shall be imposed for threatening to use violence or mentally intimidating a pregnant woman into an abortion because of the predicted sex of the infant.

- A fine ranging from VND 10.000.000 to VND 12.000.000 shall be imposed for using violence to force a pregnant woman to have an abortion because of the predicted sex of the infant.

- A fine ranging from VND 12.000.000 to VND 15.000.000 shall be imposed for commission of one of the following violations:

+ Providing chemicals and drugs for aborting the pregnancy in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective;

+ Prescribing for or instructing the use of chemicals and drugs or other measures for aborting the pregnancy in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective.

- A fine ranging from VND 15.000.000 to VND 20.000.000 shall be imposed for performing an abortion in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective.

Concurrently, additional penalties are as follows:

- The license for medical operations and/or practicing certificate shall be suspended for a fixed period of 03 - 06 months for providing chemicals and drugs for aborting the pregnancy in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective; prescribing for or instructing the use of chemicals and drugs or other measures for aborting the pregnancy in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective.

- The license for medical operations and/or practicing certificate shall be suspended for a fixed period of 06 - 12 months for performing an abortion in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective.

- The certificate of eligibility for pharmacy business or operations of the violating non-commercial pharmacy business establishment shall be suspended for a fixed period of 01 – 03 months for providing chemicals and drugs for aborting the pregnancy in the knowledge that the abortion is sex-selective.

Thus, if the mother voluntarily terminates the pregnancy because the child is not of the desired sex, she may be fined up to 5,000,000 VND.

View more details at the Decree No. 117/2020/NĐ-CP of Vietnam’s Government, effective from November 15, 2020.

Thuy Tram

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