In the United States,
hearing the words "it's a girl," is a cause for enormous joy and
celebration for most, said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. "Today, the three most dangerous words in China and India are: It's a girl," Smith said told a congressional hearing Sept. 10. Smith, the father of two boys and two girls, addressed the issues of sex-selective abortion, lopsided gender ratios, and malnutrition among young females in India during a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Heath, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.
Smith, subcommittee chairman, said tens of millions of women are missing in India as a result of sex-selective abortion and female infanticide. Smith said in parts of India, 126 boys are born for every 100 girls.
"Women have been systematically exterminated through sex-selection abortion," Smith said. "It's a deliberate and premeditated assault on women."
Smith said India also has 37 million more men than women, according to the 2011 census.
He said malnutrition of young girls is also common. Smith said girls below the age of 5 have a mortality rate that is 75 percent higher than boys of the same age.