Today is the International Day of the Girl Child, an opportunity to address the unique challenges girls face around the world and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.  

One of the key focuses this year is on the right of girls to “live free from gender-based violence”.  

Girls are tragically subject to countless instances of violence simply because they are girls, from sex trafficking, prostitution and child marriage, to female genital mutilation, sexual assault and harassment, and online abuse. 

But one form of violence that receives very little attention is that of sex-selective abortion. 

It is no secret that sex-selective abortions...