BEIJING — A Chinese government institute has recommended Beijing revoke its “one-child” policy that has forced abortion and sterilization upon millions of its citizens during the last three decades.
The recommendation offered by the China Development Research Foundation called for phasing in termination of the coercive population control program, according to The Associated Press. The foundation recommended:
An immediate two-child policy in some provinces.
A national two-child policy by 2015.
An end to all birth limits by 2020.
China’s population control program, which began officially in 1980, generally limits couples in urban areas to one child and those in rural areas to two if the first is a girl. Parents in cities may have second babies if the husband and wife are both only children. Couples who violate the policy face the threat of large fines, job loss and imprisonment.
The policy also has resulted in many accounts of authorities carrying out forced abortions — even in the last three months of pregnancy — and sterilizations.
The foundation issued the recommendation Oct. 26, saying declining economic growth and social problems — including the gender imbalance and aging workforce — in the world’s most populous country have replaced population growth in significance, according to the state-run Xinhua News Agency.
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