A Senate committee says forced and coerced sterilization should be a criminal offense and those subjected to it need an apology and compensation. The human rights commission says in a report today that coercive and coercive sterilizations still exist in Canada today and both legal and policy responses are needed. Senators say the “appalling practice” disproportionately affects vulnerable and marginalized groups, including Indigenous women, Black and Indigenous women and people with disabilities. The report follows a commission study on forced and coerced sterilization in Canada that began in 2019. It says forced or involuntary sterilization refers to a surgical procedure to prevent conception that is performed without the patient’s free, prior and informed consent. The report notes that Canada has a long history of forced and coerced sterilization through laws and government policies that sought to reduce births in Indigenous and black communities, as well as those living in poverty or with disabilities. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 14, 2022. — This story was produced with financial assistance from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship. — This story was produced with financial assistance from Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
