Officials in China are ready to outlaw the selective abortion of female fetuses to correct an imbalance in the ratio of boys to girls. The erroneous ratio has resulted over more than two decades.
More than 20 years ago a policy was established that limited urban couples to one child. Those who failed to comply faced steep fines and other criminal sanctions, plus compulsory abortions.
Zhang Weiqing, minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission said gender-selective abortions would only be lawful if they were medically necessary.
Many parents want more children to provide for them in their old age.
