Day 2/16 Days of Activism on ending Violence Against Women
Forced and Coerced Sterilization of Women – A form of Structural Violence
Women all over the World have reported being coerced or/and forced into sterilization. While written laws and policies do not support this, the unwritten policies and practice at service delivery is to the contrary. Reasons advanced are that it is a long term family planning method and the best for women who are vulnerable like women living with disability, a means of reducing mother to child transmission of HIV (for those who are HIV positive) and usually Health Care providers use terms like, “it is in your best interest as an HIV-positive woman”. Women also report that there are some projects that give an incentive to project teams who put women on long term family planning methods!
Access to Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights including family planning cannot be emphasized but this should be with full information and consent by a woman.
Call to action on Governments
The Ministries of Health, Gender and Human rights bodies, take interest and monitor provision of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Family Planning Services in particular to ensure compliance to Human rights principles.
Call to action on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Work with your country level members and Medical practitioners to ensure that human rights provisions and professional codes of conduct are adhered to when performing procedures for prevention of pregnancy on women who have not freely requested such procedures, or who have not given their free and informed consent.
Call to action on Women
Amplify your Voice, Orange the World, speak out on your experience of Family Planning, and condemn coerced and/or forced sterilization of women.
Join us at #WLHIVSPEAKOUT; Join the Global Campaign (Orange the World, #HearMeToo)
Contact
Margaret Happy, Advocacy Manager, mhappy@icwea.org/admin@icwea.org
Facebook: ICW Eastern Africa, Twitter: @ICWEastAFrica
Web: www.icwea.org
