In Pictures: The world’s seven billionth baby

Three pregnant mothers in Uttar Pradesh had been among the cohort of women likely to deliver on or around October 31 [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Globally, nearly 800,000 girls are being eliminated every year before they are born due to preference for boys [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

India alone accounts for 500,000 sex-selective abortions annually. The government has enacted a law against use of technology for sex-determination and sex-selective abortions, but the practice continues unabated [Plan / Alf Berg]

About 7 million girls are missing from India(***)s child sex ratio and the number is rising [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

The widening gap in sex ratio has reached alarming levels in some rural districts. Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh now has only 837 girls per 1,000 boys under the age of 6. [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

In societies across South Asia and the Far East, boys are considered to be a family(***)s biggest social and financial asset and girls a liability [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Women often have very little say in their own reproductive health. A large number believe their social worth is derived from the number of sons they deliver [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Ramvati, a mother of seven daughters, is often pitied by other villagers for not having a son. People have even suggested healers who guarantee a baby boy [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Social consequences of "missing girls" are beginning to be felt. Many men like Kanwarpal have tried and given up hopes of ever finding a bride [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Dablu from Uttar Pradesh travelled nearly 500km to Chhattisgarh and married Sandhya with the help of a local matchmaker. The long-distance brides often come from very poor families and many don(***)t get to see them for years [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Changing centuries-old beliefs is a great challenge. Many people fail to see the consequences of a widening gender gap [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Advocates are using creative methods such as games, songs and drama to engage with villagers at all levels [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

Traditionally, women are blamed for giving birth to girls. Awareness often starts with getting the basic facts right [Plan / Davinder Kumar]

In remote villages, teenagers are being trained to lead awareness campaigns. They go door-to-door and explain to local communities that girls and boys are equal [Plan / Davinder Kumar]