The European Disability Forum (EDF) – the umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities that defends the interests of over 100 million persons with disabilities in Europe is calling for the respect of the sexual and reproductive rights of persons with disabilities, particularly of women and girls with disabilities.
This includes the right to choose whether to have children or not. Subjecting persons with disabilities to harmful practices constitutes a pervasive abuse and a flagrant violation of their fundamental rights.
Allowing forced sterilisation in Europe is accepting an intrusive form of violence that destroys survivors’ lives. It causes long-lasting trauma pain and supports a biased system that doubts the ability of persons with disabilities, frequently women with disabilities, to care for a child and establish a family.
In this briefing, the Forum collected stories in the media about the impact of forced sterilisation on women with disabilities. We also offer “glimmers of hope”: countries that banned the practice and are working to compensate victims.