Image – Shutterstock: Tatiana Diuvbanova
In 2021 Iran passed their ‘Youthful Population and Family Support Act’, and it became the subject of fierce debate, with critics pointing to both an increase in Down syndrome births and the growth of an underground abortion market. Yet the deeper question is whether a society that seeks to value life and family can build a culture where every child, regardless of disability, is welcomed.
The law was passed to encourage larger families at a time when population growth had fallen to a mere 0.7 per cent. Policymakers hoped to raise fertility rates to 2.5 children per woman by limiting abortions and curbing the widespread use of prenatal screenings and contraceptives, while at the same time offering financial incentives for marriage and childbearing. The aim was to reverse demographic decline and secure the nation’s future.
According to reports, the rate of Down syndrome births has risen, now standing at about one in 700 compared with one in 1,000 in developed countries. Pro-abortion campaigners have highlighted the social and medical challenges this may bring, yet from a pro-life perspective, these figures also reflect something else: the survival of children who, in many parts of the world, would have been denied the chance to be born. The rise in births of children with disabilities is not a failure of the Iranian state’s policy, but a reminder of the inherent value of every human life.
Critics have warned that tighter restrictions have given rise to illegal abortion networks, with tragic consequences. A recent case in Hormozgan province saw a practitioner sentenced to death for carrying out more than 100 unlawful abortions.
The law’s supporters point to the wide-ranging incentives it provides: loans for young couples, allowances for children, tax breaks, housing assistance and transport subsidies. Despite this, fertility has stabilised at only 1.6 children per woman, far below the government’s target. Though the legislation is young, for lasting change it must be accompanied by cultural renewal. Celebrating motherhood, protecting families, and ensuring that parents with children with disabilities are supported, not stigmatised.
Iran’s example raises profound questions for the global community. Do we measure progress by the number of lives prevented through screening, or by how well we uphold the dignity of every child? SPUC says the latter. Every life with Down syndrome, every so-called “unwanted” pregnancy carried to term, is not a burden but a testimony to the strength of love and the resilience of family. Right now, Iran’s law seems to be a success story.
If you’re reading this and haven’t yet donated to SPUC, please consider helping now. Thank You!
