Respect, protect, and fulfill the right to bodily autonomy! Ending forced sterilization of women andgirls with disabilities
Introduction
Forced sterilization has long been recognized as a grievous violation of human rights,
disproportionately affecting women and girls with disabilities. Despite international efforts to address
this harmful practice and form of violence, it persists in various forms across the world. Expert
guidance, UN resolutions and the CRPD Committee's recommendations provide comprehensive andclear guidance for addressing this egregious human rights violation. While the gap between humanrights standards and practice remains tragically wide, it is imperative that States accelerate
implemention of these recommendations to eliminate forced sterilization and protect the bodily
autonomy of all women and girls with disabilities. This paper compiles expert and internationallyagreed language on forced sterilization, highlighting that an eliminating forced sterilization is a humanrights obligation, a moral imperative, and a shared global political commitment.
Internationally agreed and expert language on forced sterilization
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995): Paragraph 115 identifies acts of violence against
women, including forced sterilization and forced abortion, as significant issues to be addressed
globally.
Interagency Statement on Eliminating Forced Sterilization (2014): Seven UN agencies, including the
WHO and UNFPA, made a strong statement aiming to contribute to the elimination of forced, coercive
and otherwise involuntary sterilization, acknowledging its disproportionate impact on persons withdisabilities, and stressing that sterilization must be based on the full, free and informed decisionmaking of the person concerned.
GA resolution A/RES/72/162 (2017): This resolution calls on states to eliminate harmful practices,
including forced sterilization, ensuring that no medical procedures are performed without the free
and informed consent of women and girls with disabilities.
HRC resolution 47/15 (2021): It emphasizes the need to protect women and girls with disabilities fromall forms of violence, including forced sterilization, recognizing it as a violation that may constitutetorture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
CRPD Committee Observations and Recommendations
The CRPD Committee has extensively reviewed the implementation of Article 17 across various
countries, focusing heavily on forced sterilization of women and girls with disabilities. Article 17emphasizes the right of persons with disabilities to respect for their physical and mental integrity on
an equal basis with others.
Key Concerns and Recommendations from the CRPD Committee:
Legal and institutional safeguards: The Committee has highlighted the need for robust legal
frameworks prohibiting forced sterilization and ensuring that any medical intervention requires thefree and informed consent of the individual concerned
Monitoring mechanisms: Effective monitoring mechanisms are essential to prevent forced
sterilization and other non-consensual medical procedures. This includes independent bodies that canassess and act on violations within institutions.
Awareness and education:Raising awareness and providing education on sexual and reproductive
rights for persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, is critical. States are encouraged to
implement public awareness campaigns and ensure accessible information.
Data Collection and research: Comprehensive data collection on instances of forced sterilization isnecessary to understand the scope of the issue and develop targeted interventions. This data should
be disaggregated by sex, age, and type of disability.
Redress and support: States must provide mechanisms for redress and support for victims of forced
sterilization. This includes access to justice, compensation, and rehabilitation services.
Forced sterilization sources/references:“Acts of violence against women also include forced sterilization and forced abortion, coercive/forced
use of contraceptives, female infanticide, and prenatal sex selection.” – Beijing Declaration andPlatform of Action, para. 115
OHCHR, UN Women, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO, Eliminating Forced, Coercive andOtherwise Involuntary Sterilization: An Interagency Statement (Geneva, WHO, 2014). Seven United
Nations agencies, including UNFPA, issued a historic commitment to eliminate forced, coercive, orotherwise involuntary sterilization. This joint statement includes recognition of the disproportionate
ways in which people with disabilities are subjected to forced sterilization.
GA resolution A/RES/72/162: Calls upon States to accelerate efforts to eliminate harmful practices,
including child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, and to repeal legislation andregulatory provisions that allow the administration of forced medical procedures such as forced
sterilization, forced abortion, and forced contraception and to ensure that any medical procedure orintervention is not performed without the free and informed consent of women and girls withdisabilities.
HRC resolution 47/15. Accelerating efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women andgirls: preventing and responding to all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities
Recognizing that violence against women and girls is a global phenomenon and a manifestation ofhistorical and structural gender inequality and discrimination against women and girls, rooted inunequal power relations between women and men and in gender stereotypes, and that all forms ofviolence against women and girls, including harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage,
female genital mutilation, forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception, and conflict-related sexual violence and violence motivated by xenophobia, nullify the exercise and full enjoymentof human rights and fundamental freedoms by all women and girls,
Deeply concerned that women and girls with disabilities are disproportionately subjected to forced
sterilization, which is a form of violence and violation and abuse of human rights that may constitutetorture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and results in lifelong consequences for thephysical and mental integrity of women and girls with disabilities,
8. Also calls upon States to take immediate and effective action to respond to all forms of violenceagainst women and girls and to support and protect all victims and survivors by:(i) Repealing legislation and regulatory provisions that restrict legal capacity or permit forced
sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception and ensuring that any medical procedure orintervention is performed with due regard for the right to respect for physical and mental integrity on
an equal basis with others and to bodily autonomy and is not performed without the free andinformed consent of women and girls with disabilities;
HRC resolution 40/14. Rights of the child: empowering children with disabilities for the enjoymentof their human rights, including through inclusive education
12. Also calls upon States to take all measures and to exercise due diligence to prevent children withdisabilities, on an equal basis with other children, from being subjected to torture or cruel, inhumanor degrading treatment or punishment, or violation of their physical and mental integrity, including
through forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception;
HRC resolution 22/32 Rights of the child: the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health
22. Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to abolish harmful practices compromising the
dignity and integrity of the child, and prejudicial to the health of boys and girls, particularly by
preventing and explicitly condemning such practices including but not limited to female infanticide,female genital mutilation, virginity tests, early and forced marriage, forced sterilization, prenatal sex
selection, breast ironing and harmful practices against children with disabilities and children withalbinism, and to develop age- appropriate, gender-sensitive, safe and confidential programmes andmedical, social and psychological support services to protect, treat, counsel and reintegrate childvictims;
OHCHR Thematic study on the issue of violence against women and girls and disability A/HRC/20/5(see paras 9, 22, 24, 29 and recommendation in para 53(d): Prohibiting by law forced sterilization ofchildren and adults on the grounds of disability, ensuring adequate procedural safeguards to protect
the right to free and prior informed consent;
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities report A/72/133 Sexual andreproductive health and rights of girls and young women with disabilities (2017)
29. The forced sterilization of girls and young women with disabilities represents a widespread humanrights violation across the globe. Girls and young women with disabilities are disproportionately
subjected to forced and involuntary sterilization for different reasons, including eugenics, menstrual
management, and pregnancy prevention. Women with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, aswell as those placed in institutions, are particularly vulnerable to forced sterilization. Despite thelimited data on current practices, studies show that the sterilization of women and girls with

disabilities continues to be prevalent, and up to three times higher than the rate for the general
population.
30. While United Nations human rights instruments, mechanisms, and agencies have recognized thatthe forced sterilization of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination, a form of violence,
torture, and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, the practice is still legal and applied inmany countries. Across the globe, many legal systems allow judges, healthcare professionals, family
members, and guardians to consent to sterilization procedures on behalf of persons with disabilities
as being in their "best interest," particularly for girls with disabilities who are under the legal authorityof their parents. These practices are often conducted on a purported precautionary basis due to thevulnerability of girls and young women with disabilities to sexual abuse, and under the fallacy thatsterilization would enable girls and young women with disabilities who are "deemed unfit forparenthood" to improve their quality of life without the "burden" of a pregnancy. However,sterilization neither protects them against sexual violence or abuse nor removes the State’s obligation
to protect them from such abuse. Forced sterilization is an unacceptable practice with lifelong
consequences on the physical and mental integrity of girls and young women with disabilities thatmust be immediately eradicated and criminalized.
(See also paras 34, 49, 60, 62(b))
Human rights treaty bodies
CESCR General Comment No. 22 on the right to sexual and reproductive health (2016)
30.Individuals belonging to particular groups may be disproportionately affected by intersectional
discrimination in the context of sexual and reproductive health. As identified by the Committee, groups
such as, but not limited to, poor women, persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous or other ethnic
minorities, adolescents, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, and people living with
HIV/AIDS are more likely to experience multiple discrimination. Trafficked and sexually exploited
women, girls and boys are subject to violence, coercion and discrimination in their everyday lives, with
their sexual and reproductive health at great risk. Also, women and girls living in conflict situations are
disproportionately exposed to a high risk of violation of their rights, including through systematic rape,
sexual slavery, forced pregnancy and forced sterilization. Measures to guarantee non-discriminationand substantive equality should be cognizant of and seek to overcome the often exacerbated impactthat intersectional discrimination has on the realization of the right to sexual and reproductive health.
57.Examples of violations of the obligation to respect includethe establishment of legal barriers
impeding access by individuals to sexual and reproductive health services, such as the criminalizationof women undergoingabortions and the criminalization of consensual sexual activity between adults.
Banning or denying access in practice to sexual and reproductive health services and medicines, suchas emergency contraception, also violates the obligation to respect. Laws and policies that prescribe
involuntary, coercive or forced medical interventions, including forced sterilization or mandatory
HIV/AIDS, virginity or pregnancy testing, also violate the obligation to respect.
59.Violations of the obligation to protect occur when a State fails to take effective steps to prevent
third parties from undermining theenjoyment of the right to sexual and reproductive health. This
includes the failure to prohibit and take measures to prevent all forms of violence and coercion
committed by private individuals and entities, including domestic violence, rape (including maritalrape),sexual assault, abuse and harassment, including during conflict, post-conflict and transition
situations;violencetargeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex personsor women seeking
abortion or post-abortion care; harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child and forcedmarriage,forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced pregnancy; and medically unnecessary,
irreversible and involuntary surgery and treatment performed on intersex infants or children.
CRPD General Comment No.3 on women and girls with disabilities (2016)63. States parties should combat multiple discrimination by, inter alia: (a) Repealing discriminatory
laws, policies and practices that prevent women with disabilities from enjoying all the rights enshrinedin the Convention, outlawing gender- and disability-based discrimination and its intersectional forms,
criminalizing sexual violence against girls and women with disabilities, prohibiting all forms of forced
sterilization, forced abortion and non-consensual birth control, prohibiting all forms of forced genderand/or disability-related medical treatment and taking all appropriate legislative steps to protect
women with disabilities against discrimination;
CRPD Article 17 - Protecting the integrity of the person
Every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity on an
equal basis with others.
Concluding observations from the CRPD Committee
Andorra (2023)
35.The Committee notes that Act No. 40/2014, article 14, modifies article 116(2) of Act 9/2005(Criminal Code), sanctioning forced sterilization, and that the discriminatory motive of disability is anaggravating circumstance. It is concerned, however, about the following:(a)Women and girls with disabilities, in particular, women and girls with intellectual and/or
psychosocial disabilities could be subjected to forced sterilization or other forced interventions at therequest of third parties, including family members or guardians;(b)The absence of a monitoring mechanism to prevent cases of forced sterilization and other types ofsurgery for which consent has not been obtained, in particular, in psychiatric hospitals and institutions.
36.The Committee recommends that the State party:(a)Adopt legislative and other measures necessary to protect the integrity of persons withdisabilities in all settings, ensuring that all medical treatment and interventions are done on thebasis of the free and informed consent of the concerned person, as well as prevent and eliminate
harmful practices against women and girls with disabilities;(b)Establish an independent monitoring mechanism to assess the situation of persons withdisabilities in institutions to prevent, detect and, where appropriate, punish and provide redress incases of forced sterilizations, forced abortions, forced contraception or any other forced medical
treatment.
Austria (2023)
41.The Committee is concerned about reports stating that:(a)Sterilizations of women and girls with disabilities without their consent, apparently outside theconfines of §§ 253-255 ABGB, have taken place in the State party;(b)Contraceptives are administered to women and girls with disabilities without their consent or even
their knowledge, particularly in institutions.
42.The Committee recommends the State party:(a)Strictly enforce the prohibition of sterilization in § 255 ABGB, provide accessible information on
sexual self-determination, collect data on performed sterilizations in the State party, disaggregatedby sex, gender, age, procedure followed and place of the intervention, and train medical personnel
on the requirements of the law;(b)Explicitly ban the use of medical measures to inhibit procreation on persons with disabilities
without their personal consent, and enforce it.

Germany (2023)
37.The Committee is concerned about:(a)The continued occurrence of forced and coerced sterilization of women and girls with disabilities;(b)The practice of forced and coerced contraception and associated harmful side-effects and forced
and coerced abortions in institutional facilities.
38.The Committee recommends that the State Party take all necessary legislative, administrativeand judicial measures to:(a)Prohibit sterilization of women and girls with disabilities without their free and informed consent,
including sterilization based on substitute consent or court decisions;(b)Prohibit all forms of contraception and abortion without the free and informed consent of theindividual concerned, including coercive practices.
39.The Committee is concerned that the Act on the Protection of Children with Variations in Sex
Development of 2021 does not provide comprehensive protection for all intersex children frominvasive or irreversible medical procedures that modify sex characteristics.
40.The Committee recommends that the State Party closely consult and actively involve
representative organisations of intersex persons to review and amend the Act on the Protection ofChildren with Variations in Sex Development 2021 to ensure comprehensive protection for intersex
children from invasive or irreversible medical procedures that modify sex characteristics unlessnecessary to avoid serious, urgent, and irreparable harm.
Israel (2023)
39.The Committee is concerned about cases of forced sterilization performed on persons withdisabilities, and medically unnecessary and irreversible surgery and interventions on intersex children,and the lack of measures to ensure accountability and reparations.
40.The Committee recommends that the State party:(a)Prohibit sterilization without the free and informed personal consent of the person concerned;(b)Take measures to prohibit medically unnecessary and irreversible surgery and medical
interventions on intersex children until they are able to provide personal consent and adopt
measures to provide redress and reparations for the physical and psychological harms inflicted.
Malawi (2023)
35.The Committee observes with concern information about forced abortions and that women andgirls with disabilities under guardianship may be subjected to forced sterilization based on consent
provided by third parties, including family members or guardians. It is also concerned about theabsence of objective discussions and awareness-raising campaigns on sterilization and the lack ofsexual and reproductive health education for persons with disabilities.
36.The Committee recommends that the State party:(a)Prohibit sterilizations of persons with disabilities without their free and informed personalconsent, for example those at the request by third parties, including courts, guardians or family
members;(b)Adopt protocols applicable across all health care services to promote respect of sexual andreproductive rights of persons with disabilities, notably women and girls with disabilities, including
the right to retain their fertility, and the provision of related information and services;(c) Set up awareness-raising and education campaigns on sexual and reproductive health and rightsof persons with disabilities.
Mongolia (2023)
35.The Committee remains concerned at the persistence in law (art. 37 (b) of the Law on Health) andin practice, of measures to “prevent conception in persons with genetic psychosocial or intellectual
disorders, or psychosocial or intellectually impaired persons”, without their informed consent. The
Committee is also concerned that article 9.2 of the Law on Health authorizes abortions of women with

“mental disorder” carried out without the free and informed consent of women and girls withdisabilities.
36.The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (CRPD/C/MNG/CO/1, para. 29) and urges
the State party to eliminate legislative provisions of the Law on Health, as well as of bylaws andrelated regulations, restricting sexual and reproductive rights and allowing the forced sterilizationof and abortion for women with disabilities, in particular psychosocial and intellectual disabilities,
and women with disabilities living in institutions. It also recommends that the State party establish
a mechanism for identifying, investigating, and following up on any cases that, despite an explicit
prohibition, continue to arise and for providing full redress in those instances, and take measures toprovide protection against forced sterilization.
Angola (2023)
29.The Committee is concerned about the prevalence of forced medical treatments and the use ofdrugs and treatment methods on patients with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities without
their free and informed consent and forced sterilization of women and girls with disabilities.
30.The Committee recommends that the State party prohibit forced medical treatment andinterventions, including forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, including in both public andprivate institutions, and provide training to all health practitioners, including traditional healers, on
their rights.
Argentina (2023)
35.El Comité observa con preocupación lo siguiente:a)La persistencia de esterilizaciones y abortos forzados, que afectan especialmente a las mujeres yniñas con discapacidad intelectual y/o psicosocial;b)La Ley 27.610 establece que si la sentencia judicial de restricción a la capacidad impide prestar el
consentimiento para interrumpir el embarazo, o la persona ha sido declarada incapaz judicialmente,
deberá prestar su consentimiento con la asistencia de su representante legal, o a falta de este, una
persona allegada.
36.El Comité recomienda al Estado parte:a)Iniciar procesos de investigación administrativa y penal a las autoridades judiciales y sanitarias ya las instituciones que recomiendan, autorizan o aplican esterilizaciones o abortos forzados a niñas
y mujeres con discapacidad, y garantizar el acceso a la justicia y reparaciones para las víctimas;b)Revisar la legislación, incluyendo la Ley 27.610 (artículo 9), su reglamentación y su Protocolo, paragarantizar que todas las mujeres con discapacidad, puedan otorgar de manera autónoma su
consentimiento previo e informado para la interrupción voluntaria de un embarazo, en igualdad con
otras mujeres.
Georgia (2023)
35. The Committee observes with concern information about forced or involuntary abortion,sterilization, contraception, and the use of sexuality suppression medication against persons withdisabilities.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party explicitly prohibit abortion, sterilization,
contraception and the use of sexuality suppression medication, on the basis of the authorization ofa third party, and that it develops public programmes to raise awareness and inform persons withdisabilities, targeting young persons with disabilities and women and girls with disabilities, about
their sexual and reproductive rights.
Peru (2023)
34.El Comité observa con preocupación que:a)Las mujeres y niñas con discapacidad que han sido esterilizadas sin su consentimiento, incluso en
instituciones psiquiátricas y de asistencia social, no han sido incluidas en el Registro de Víctimas deEsterilizaciones Forzadas – REVIESFO, ni en las causas penales para abordar la esterilización forzada
de mujeres;b)La Norma Técnica de Planificación Familiar Actualizada afirme que el consentimiento para laesterilización femenina no es aplicable a las mujeres con discapacidad psicosocial.
35.El Comité recomienda al Estado parte que:a)Desarrolle medidas para garantizar que las mujeres con discapacidad supervivientes deesterilizaciones forzadas reciban medidas de resarcimiento y reparación y que se procese a los
autores, incluidos los responsables de instituciones psiquiátricas y de asistencia social;b)Incorpore a la Norma Técnica de Planificación Familiar Actualizada las medidas específicas,
incluyendo la provisión de ajustes razonables, apoyos y otros medios de verificación, que garanticen
el consentimiento informado de las mujeres con discapacidad psicosocial para que puedan tomar
sus propias decisiones relacionadas con su cuerpo y sexualidad, así como con su salud reproductiva.
Togo (2023)
35.The Committee notes that the national legislation prohibits forced sterilization of women withdisabilities. However, it is concerned about the lack of monitoring mechanisms of psychiatric hospitals
and other segregation centres to prevent possible cases of forced sterilizations and other types ofsurgeries for which the consent has not been obtained.
36.The Committee recommends the establishment of independent monitoring to assess thesituation of women and girls with disabilities in institutions to prevent, detect and, whereappropriate, punish and provide redress in cases of forced sterilizations, abortions or any other typeof surgery.
Tunisia (2023)
29.The Committee is deeply concerned about women with disabilities who are under guardianship andwho could allegedly be subjected to forced sterilization at the request of third parties, including trusted
persons, family members or guardians without their free will or informed consent. The Committee isfurther concerned about the lack of public and objective debate on the issue and the absence ofawareness campaigns to raise understanding that persons with disabilities should have access tosexual and reproductive health training and make their own decisions.
30.The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Take immediate measures, including legislative measures, to prohibit and eliminate forced
sterilizations, especially of women with disabilities;(b) Establish awareness campaigns on the rights of persons with disabilities to sexual andreproductive health, directed to medical personnel involved in sexual and reproductive healthand to persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities.
Bangladesh (2022)
35. The Committee is concerned about:(a) Forced abortion and forced sterilization perpetrated against women with disabilities in institutions,particularly women with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, as well as forced medical and/or
psychiatric interventions and involuntary psychiatric admissions;(b) Lack of statistical data, disaggregated by sex, age and type of impairment, on persons withdisabilities subjected to forced sterilization and forced abortions, as well as forced medical and/or
psychiatric interventions and involuntary psychiatric admissions;(c) Harmful practices against women and girls with disabilities, particularly forced marriages, remaincommon.
36. The Committee recommends that the state party:

(a) Take concrete measures to prohibit forced abortion and forced sterilization against women withdisabilities, particularly against women with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, including
abolishing forced medical, psychiatric interventions and involuntary psychiatric admissions andestablish mechanisms of supported decision-making to enable persons with disabilities to expressprior and informed consent in relation to such interventions and treatment;(b) Collect statistical data, disaggregated by sex, age and type of impairment, on persons withdisabilities subjected to forced sterilization, forced abortions, as well as forced medical and/or
psychiatric interventions and involuntary psychiatric admissions;(c) Take strong measures to prevent harmful practices such as forced marriages.
China (2022)
38. The Committee is concerned about the legal exceptions to free and informed consent tocompulsory hospitalization and medical interventions.
39. The Committee recommends that the State party remove legal exceptions to the requirement of
free and informed consent of all persons with disabilities to medical interventions, including
hospitalization, and ensure adherence to the requirement of free and informed consent with regard
to all persons with disabilities.
Macao
84. The Committee is concerned about the legal exceptions to free and informed consent tocompulsory hospitalization and medical interventions.
85. The Committee recommends that Macao SAR, China remove legal exceptions to the requirementof free and informed consent of all persons with disabilities to medical interventions, including
hospitalization, and ensure adherence to the requirement of free and informed consent with regard
to all persons with disabilities.
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (2022)
30. The Committee is concerned about the lack of information on concrete measures taken to protect
persons with disabilities, especially persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities against
forced medical procedures and interventions, including sterilization.
31. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen the legal and policy frameworks toensure that all medical and psychiatric treatment and interventions are done on the basis of own
free and informed consent. It also recommends that the State party take all measures necessary toeliminate the forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, especially persons with psychosocial
and/or intellectual disabilities, and those still deprived of their legal capacity.
New Zealand (2022)
35.The Committee is seriously concerned about:(a) The lack of action by the State party, in response to the Committee’s 2014 concluding observations,to address the fact that parents can consent to sterilization of their children with disabilities and toalso address laws that allow for the use of sterilization, contraception and abortion procedures withregard to women and girls with disabilities without their personal consent;(b) The lack of a prohibition on non-urgent, intrusive and irreversible medical interventions or theimposition of hormones on intersex infants and children before an age at which they can provide
informed consent;(c) The lack of legislative provisions to prohibit Ashley Treatment or growth attenuation treatment forchildren with disabilities, including to prohibit accessing these procedures outside New Zealand;(d) The lack of data in relation to sterilization and abortion procedures performed on persons withdisabilities without their personal consent, non-urgent medical interventions on intersex children
without their consent and growth attenuation treatment.

36. The Committee urges the State party to:(a) Immediately place a moratorium on sterilization, contraception and abortion procedures
performed without personal consent, and take urgent action to adopt uniform legislation prohibiting
such procedures on women and girls with disabilities;(b) Adopt clear legislative provisions that explicitly prohibit the performance of unnecessary,
invasive and irreversible medical interventions, including surgical, hormonal or other medical
procedures on intersex children before an age at which they can provide informed consent;(c) Recalling previous recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, develop
and implement a child rights-based health-care protocol for intersex children, setting the procedures
and steps to be followed by health teams, ensuring that no one is subjected to unnecessary medicalor surgical treatment during infancy or childhood, guaranteeing the rights of children to bodily
integrity, autonomy and self-determination, and provide families with intersex children withadequate counselling and support;(d) Adopt legislative provisions to prohibit growth attenuation treatment (Ashley Treatment),
including a prohibition on procedures sought outside New Zealand;(e) Adopt legal provisions to provide legal remedies and holistic redress to victims of medical
interventions performed without personal consent, including access to support and recovery
services and adequate compensation;(f) Develop measures to ensure reporting and data collection on sterilization, contraception andabortion procedures performed without personal consent, on non-urgent medical interventions
performed on intersex children and on growth attenuation treatment.
Singapore (2022)
35. The Committee is concerned that the Voluntary Sterilization Act allows for the sterilization of
persons with disabilities based on a court order declaring that it is necessary and in the best interestof the person concerned.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal the Voluntary Sterilization Act andexpressly and effectively protect women and girls with disabilities from sterilization without their
free and informed personal consent.
Hungary (2022)
35. The Committee observes with concern that women and girls with disabilities, especially thoseplaced under substitute decision-making regimes and those still in institutions can be subject tosterilization and abortion without their consent. The Committee is particularly concerned that womenand girls with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities and autistic women and girls are subjected tocontraception without their consent in residential institutions, including in group homes, and facediscriminatory legal restrictions on their right to have a child.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party abolish all legal provisions, including theprovisions of the Health Act (187/B) that allows for women and girls with disabilities to be sterilized
and abortions carried out on them on the basis of third-party requests, including from guardians.
The Committee also recommends that the State party adopt protocols on respect for the sexual andreproductive health rights of women and girls with disabilities, in particular women and girls withintellectual disabilities, and include the duty to provide them with accessible information andservices concerning their sexual and reproductive health rights. The Committee further recommends
that the State party ensure that the use of contraception by all women and girls with disabilities inall settings is based on free and informed consent, respecting the dignity and autonomy of womenand girls with disabilities.

Mexico (2022)
45. The Committee is concerned about continuing practices of forced sterilization, contraception andabortion, particularly affecting women and girls with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities both insideand outside of institutions and indigenous women and girls. The Committee has received very
disturbing reports of forced sterilization in Casa Hogar Esperanza.
46. The Committee reiterates the recommendations made in paragraph 38 of its previous concluding
observations urging the State party to launch administrative and criminal investigations into the
judicial and health authorities and institutions that recommend, authorize or perform forced
sterilizations, contraception and abortion on girls, adolescents and women with disabilities and toguarantee access to justice and reparation for victims.
47. The Committee further recommends that the State party implement training programmes for
professionals in the public and private health sectors on sexual and reproductive health rights ofwomen and girls with disabilities that include training on respect for their preferences and on
dismantling prevalent stereotypes of the sexuality of women and girls with disabilities.
Switzerland (2022)
35. The Committee notes with concern:(a) That persons over 16 years of age deemed “incapable of discernment” can be sterilized under legal
provisions that authorize sterilization procedures; and the lack of data on and redress for suchprocedures;(b) The lack of uniform cantonal protection against the practice of “packing” that is applied to autistic
children, whereby the child is wrapped in cold, wet sheets;(c) That intersex persons can be subjected to unnecessary and irreversible medical and/or surgicalinterventions, including during infancy or childhood; and that there is a lack of ongoing health care,
psychosocial support and social reintegration for intersex persons who have been subjected to intersex
genital mutilation and a lack of access to redress.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Prohibit the sterilization of persons with disabilities without their consent, repeal legal provisions
that allow substituted consent by third parties for sterilization procedures, collect disaggregateddata on sterilization procedures, and take measures to provide redress and support to persons withdisabilities who are victims of forced sterilization;(b) Prohibit in all cantons the practice of “packing” children, and take measures ensure the recoveryof and redress for children who have been subjected to such treatment;(c) Adopt clear legislative provisions that explicitly prohibit the performance of unnecessary andirreversible medical interventions, including surgical, hormonal or other medical procedures, onintersex infants and children; provide adequate counselling and support for families of intersex
children; extend the statute of limitations to enable criminal and civil remedies; and provide healthcare and psychosocial support to intersex persons who have been subjected to intersex genital
mutilation.
Venezuela (2022)
32. The Committee is concerned about the persistence of involuntary confinement and treatment andnon-consensual medical practices in respect of persons with disabilities, including the forced
sterilization of women and girls with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities.
33. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal all legal provisions that permit
involuntary treatment, and prohibit involuntary treatment and restraint and the forced sterilizationof persons with disabilities.

Djibouti (2021)
29. The Committee is concerned about the lack of effective frameworks and policies to protect the
integrity of persons with disabilities, especially persons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities,
particularly in mental health institutions, including forced medical treatment and the use of drugs andtreatment methods without free and informed consent.
30. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt and implement legislative and policies
measures to establish safeguards to ensure the protection of the integrity of persons with disabilities,
especially persons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities in all situations and to move towards
mental health services in the community and to ensure the respect of the free and informed consent
of persons with disabilities regarding medical treatment and interventions.
France (2021)
36. The Committee observes with concern that:(a) Women with disabilities subject to guardianship can be subjected to abortion or sterilization under
The Public Health Code art. L2123-2 without their consent, or with consent provided by third parties,
including trusted persons, family members or guardians;(b) Autistic children are subjected to treatments with objective "render them non-autistic",
disrespecting their identity, and the practices of packing, despite public declarations prohibiting thispractice;(c) Non-consensual medical interventions of intersex persons.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Prohibit involuntary sterilization and abortion of women with disabilities, including by requestof family members, guardians and trusted persons or with the consent of third parties;(b) Eliminate normalising treatments on autistic children, and adopt measures to redress the rightsof children and adults with disabilities who have been subjected to these treatments, including
through reparations and compensations for the impact of these treatments on their physical andmental integrity;(c) Prohibit the practice of non-consensual medical interventions on intersex persons.
Estonia (2021)
34. The Committee observes with concern that women with disabilities under guardianship can be
subjected to sterilization or abortion without their consent.
35. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Prohibit the forced sterilization and the termination of pregnancies of women with disabilities
based on third-party requests, including from guardians or tutors, and raise awareness about thelegal prohibition;(b) Adopt protocols promoting respect for the sexual and reproductive rights of persons withdisabilities, particularly women and girls with disabilities, and include in such protocols the duty toprovide persons with disabilities with accessible information and services concerning their right toretain their fertility.
Australia (2019)
33. The Committee is seriously concerned about:(a) The ongoing practice of forced sterilization, forced abortion and forced contraception among
persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, which remains legal;(b) The unregulated use of involuntary surgery on infants and children born with variations in sex
characteristics and of other intrusive and irreversible medical interventions without the free andinformed consent of those undergoing such interventions or without evidence of the need to carrythem out.

34. The Committee urges the State party to:(a) Review and amend laws, including the section of the Family Law Rules 2004 relating toapplications for medical procedures, in line with the Convention and adopt uniform legislationprohibiting, in the absence of free and informed consent, the sterilization of adults and children, theadministration of contraception and the imposition of abortion procedures on women and girls withdisabilities;(b) Adopt clear legislative provisions that explicitly prohibit the performance of unnecessary,
invasive and irreversible medical interventions, including surgical, hormonal or other medical
procedures on intersex children before they reach the legal age of consent; also provide adequate
counselling and support for the families of intersex children and redress to intersex persons having
undergone such medical procedures;(c) Prohibit the use of non-consensual electroconvulsive therapy on the basis of any form ofimpairment.
Ecuador (2019)
33. The Committee is concerned at:(a) The fact that the Organic Act on the Health System is not in line with the Convention since it is notbased on the human rights model of disability;(b) That no explicit provision is made for the rights of persons with psychosocial and intellectual
disabilities to request or reject treatments of any type on their own volition, including those dealing
with sexual and reproductive health, on the basis of their informed consent and supported decisionmaking in the exercise of their legal capacity;(c) The fact that forced sterilization is not expressly prohibited.
34. The Committee recommends that the State party amend the Organic Act on the Health System
to incorporate a human rights approach to disability and to expressly prohibit forced sterilizationand the non-consensual interruption of pregnancies. The Committee also recommends that theState party guarantee the integrity and autonomy of persons with disabilities based on free andinformed consent and supported decision-making in requesting or rejecting treatments relating to
all relevant procedures. It also recommends that a mechanism be established for identifying,investigating and following up on any cases that, despite an explicit prohibition, continue to arise
and for providing full redress in those instances.
El Salvador (2019)34. The Committee is concerned that women and girls with disabilities continue to be subjected toforced sterilization and abortion, without their consent, and that the Counsel-General’s Office issues
opinions to hospitals on medical treatment including forced sterilization without the consent of theperson concerned but with the consent of a third party. It is also concerned that no cases of forced
sterilization were reported by hospitals.
35. The Committee urges the State party to:(a) Repeal article 147 (3) of the Criminal Code and abolish the practice of forced sterilization of
women and girls with disabilities, and ensure that decisions regarding medical procedures are takenwith the free and informed consent of the person with disability and not as per the opinions issued
by the Counsel-General’s Office;(b) Establish an independent mechanism to monitor, register and investigate cases of forced
sterilization in hospitals and private clinics.
India (2019)36. The Committee is concerned about:(a) Continuing lawful practices of forced sterilization, forced contraception and forced abortion,
particularly affecting women with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities in institutions;(b) Harmful practices against women with disabilities, particularly forced marriages, dowry paymentsfrom families, and national schemes to promote financial incentives for marriage with a woman withdisabilities or to prompt marriage among persons with disabilities;(c) Sex-assignment or “sex-normalizing” surgery on intersex children, stigmatization and bullying
against intersex children and their restricted access to community services.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Repeal section 92 (f) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act on the exception to therequirement of consent to abortion in women with “severe” disabilities and legislation authorizing
medical treatment on the basis of third-party consent, and provide all persons with disabilities withsupported decision-making mechanisms for expressing prior and informed consent to medical
treatment;(b) Redouble its efforts to enforce the legal prohibition of harmful practices such as dowry payments
and forced marriages, in relation to women and girls with disabilities, and end harmful practices.
The State party should ensure actual implementation of the recommendations issued by the Special
Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences (A/HRC/26/38/Add.1, para. 80(b)) on designing and launching targeted awareness-raising campaigns at the community level on
harmful practices;(c) Adopt measures to prevent sex-assignment or “sex-normalizing” surgery, stigmatization andbullying against intersex children and ensure their right to respect for their physical and mental
integrity.
Kuwait (2019)34. The Committee is concerned about the lack of information on whether certain medical
interventions, including the sterilization of persons with disabilities, especially women and girls withpsychosocial or intellectual disabilities, are being carried out without the free and informed consent
of the person concerned.
35. The Committee recommends that the State party protect persons with disabilities, especiallywomen and girls with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, from forced sterilization, in law and inpractice, and that it ensure that the right to free and informed consent prior to all interventions andtreatments is upheld and that supported decision-making mechanisms and strengthened safeguards
are provided.
Myanmar (2019)
33. The Committee is concerned about the lack of information on concrete measures taken to protect
persons with disabilities, especially persons with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities against forced
medical procedures and interventions, including sterilization and castration.
34. The Committee recommends that the State party strengthen the legal and policy provisions toensure that all medical and psychiatric treatment and interventions are done on the basis of theirown free and informed consent. It also recommends that the State party take all measures necessary
to eliminate practices of forced sterilization and castration on persons with disabilities, especiallypersons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, and those still deprived of their legal capacity.
Cuba (2019)
33. The Committee is concerned about the risks posed by article 18 of the Public Health Act, which
exempts ‘disabled persons’ from the requirement of prior consent with regard to medical
interventions. The Committee is therefore concerned that a legal guardian may authorise medical
interventions with regard to persons with disabilities, including forced institutionalisation andsterilization.

34. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt effective measures to ensure respect for
the right of persons with disabilities to provide free and informed consent prior to medical
treatment, institutionalization and sterilization, and provide efficient support mechanisms for
decision-making in the State party.
Niger (2019)29. The Committee is concerned about:(a) Sterilization of persons with disabilities without their free and informed consent especially womenand girls with disabilities, and persons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, in health centres
andhospitals,
andthroughtraditional
healers;(b) The lack of protection of persons with disabilities, especially those with psychosocial or intellectual
disabilities, against forced medical treatments; and the use of drugs and treatment methods onpatients with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities without their free and informed consent.
30. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Strengthen legal and policy provisions protecting persons with disabilities from forced
sterilization, especially women and girls with disabilities, persons with psychosocial or intellectual
disabilities, and those deprived of their legal capacity; prosecute and sanction the perpetrators, andprovideremediestovictims;(b) Adopt necessary legislative and policy measures to ensure all medical treatment andinterventions are done on the basis of the free and informed consent of persons with disabilities;(c) Provide training to all health practitioners, including traditional healers, on the rights of persons
with disabilities.
Norway (2019)29. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, including women and children,
reportedly continue to be subjected to involuntary medical treatment, including forced abortion andsterilization.
30. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt effective measures to ensure respect for
the right of persons with disabilities, particularly women and children, to provide informed and priorconsent to medical treatment, including abortion and sterilization, regardless of the severity andtype of impairment and to provide efficient support mechanisms for decision-making.
Rwanda (2019)31. The Committee notes with concern the lack of prevention and protection measures to fully ensure
the integrity of persons with disabilities, in particular against forced treatment and forced sterilizationof persons with disabilities, particularly those with psychosocial disabilities and women and girls withdisabilities.
32. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt legislative and other measures necessary
to protect the integrity of persons with disabilities in all settings, including institutional settings
where persons with psychosocial disabilities are still placed, and to prevent and stop forced
treatment and forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, particularly those with psychosocial
disabilities and women and girls with disabilities.
Saudi Arabia (2019)31. The Committee is concerned at the forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, especiallywomen and girls with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities.
32. The Committee urges the State party to protect persons with disabilities, especially women andgirls and those with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities, from forced sterilization, in law and inpractice, and ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted and sanctioned, and that remedies areavailable for persons subjected to forced sterilization.
Spain (2019)
33. The Committee is deeply concerned that women and girls with disabilities continue to be subjected
to forced sterilization and abortion. The Committee is further concerned that medical treatments
without the free and informed consent by the person are practiced in the State party.
34. The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (CRPD/C/ESP/CO/1, para. 8) and further
urges the State party to repeal article 156 of the Organic Law 10/1995 to fully abolish theadministration of sterilization, medical treatment and research on all persons with disabilities,
without the full and informed consent of the person.
Türkiye (2019)36. The Committee is concerned about reports of forced sterilization and forced abortion performed
on women and girls with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. It is also concerned about the lack of
information about procedures to safeguard the physical and mental integrity of persons withdisabilities, in cases where guardians or other third parties request or authorise medical interventions
without their consent.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Revise current legislation and prohibit the practice of medical interventions based on third
party’s consent acting as guardians or tutors of persons with disabilities deprived of their legal
capacity, and that it develop supported decision-making mechanisms for persons with disabilities
that respect will and preferences of the person and protect their dignity and individual autonomy;(b) Adopt measures to ensure the prohibition of forced abortions and forced sterilizations and raiseawareness of forced medical interventions as harmful practices and ensure that the prior andinformed consent of persons with disabilities is given for any medical and surgical treatment;(c) Ensure patient rights’ brochures, social media posts and guidebooks are in accessible formats
such as Easy Read and plain language and known by persons with disabilities, doctors and healthpersonnel in all health care facilities;(d) Provide sufficient remedies, including compensation, reparation and rehabilitation to persons
with disabilitites who have been subjected to any forced medical intervention, ensuring that
information retrieved by the Human Rights and Equality Institution is expeditiously processed andthat victims are assisted.
Vanuatu (2019)30. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, especially women with psychosocial or
intellectual disabilities, are subjected to forced sterilization without their consent.
31. The Committee recommends that the State party prevent and prohibit all forms of coercive
medical treatment, including forced sterilization, on persons with disabilities without their free andinformed consent and ensure that no women or girls with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities are
subject to forced sterilization.
Poland (2018)
30. The Committee is concerned about the reported forced sterilization of women and girls withdisabilities, deprived of their legal capacity, placed under guardianship and living in institutions. It isalso concerned by reports of so called “conversion therapy” being performed on LGBT+ persons
without consent, by public and private health entities, and based upon the presumed or actual
psychosocial
disabilityofaperson.
31. The Committee recommends ensuring that women and girls with disabilities have access tosupport to make important life decisions for themselves and are not subjected to sterilization
without their full, free and informed consent. It also urges to put an end to the use of conversion
therapy and offer support for persons with psychosocial disability which respects the gender identity
and sexual orientation of a person.
Philippines (2018)32. The Committee is concerned about the reported incidents of forced sterilization of women withintellectual disabilities.
33. The Committee recommends that the State party takes measures to protect women withintellectual disabilities from involuntary sterilization, and ensure that force sterilization will not
happen in practice in the future.
South Africa (2018)32. The Committee notes with concern:(a) That forced sterilization and forced abortion of persons with disabilities, especially women withdisabilities, and in particular those with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities, occur unabated;(b) The lack of protection of persons with disabilities, especially those with psychosocial and/or
intellectual disabilities, against the use of menstrual suppression drugs, including the use ofexperimental or new drugs and treatment without free and informed consent, which is also a conditionof admission into some special education schools.
33. The Committee recommends that the State Party:(a) Revise the South African Sterilization Act No. 44, 1998, and Choice on Termination of Pregnancy
Act No. 92, 1996, and remove provisions allowing for sterilization and termination of pregnancy
under substitute decision-making regime, and bring them in line with general comment No. 1 (2014)
on supported decision-making;(b) Adopt legislative and policy measures to prevent and prohibit forced sterilization and nonconsensual abortions, ensuring, without exception, that persons with disabilities, especially womenand girls with disabilities, and in particular persons with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities,
including those deprived of their legal capacity, enjoy their right to free and informed consent;(c) Abolish the use of menstrual suppression drugs, including the use of experimental or new drugs
and treatment as a condition of admission into special education schools, notably schools forlearners with intellectual disabilities and autism.
North Macedonia (2018)32. The Committee is concerned that a legal guardian can authorize medical interventions, including
abortion and sterilization, without free and informed consent of the person with disabilities.
33. The Committee urges the State party to adopt effective measures to ensure respect for the rightto provide free, informed and prior consent of the person with disabilities to medical treatment,
including sterilization and abortion, and to provide efficient support mechanisms for decisionmaking in the State party.
Haiti (2018)32. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, particularly women with intellectual
disabilities are subject to contraceptive methods without their consent, but with the consent of third
persons. The Committee is concerned that there is no structure of control or oversight of theimplementation of the prohibition of medical or scientific experiments without the actual consent of
the person as foreseen in the Act on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (2012).
33. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary measures to ensure that all
medical procedures and treatments concerning persons with disabilities are contingent on their freeand informed consent. It also recommends that the State party monitor the respect of laws
prohibiting forced and medical or scientific experiments without the actual consent of the person.
Oman (2018)
33. The Committee is concerned about:(a) The forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, especially women and girls, and in particular
those with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities;(b) Insufficient protection of persons with disabilities, especially those with psychosocial and/or
intellectual disabilities, against medical and scientific experimentation, including the use ofexperimental or new drugs and treatment methods related to the care of patients with psychosocial
and/or intellectual disabilities without their free and informed consent.
34. The Committee urges the State party to:(a) Ensure that both in law and in practice that persons with disabilities are not subjected to forced
sterilization, especially women and girls, and in particular persons with psychosocial and/or
intellectual disabilities, including those deprived of their legal capacity; and that perpetrators areprosecuted and sanctioned, as necessary, and provide remedies to persons subjected to forced
sterilization;(b) Undertake all necessary measures, both in law and in practice, to protect all persons withdisabilities, in particular those with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities, against medical andscientific experimentation, including the use of experimental or new drugs and treatment methods,
without their free and informed consent.
Russian Federation (2018)
38. The Committee is concerned about the reported instances of forced sterilization of persons withdisabilities, especially women and girls with intellectual and/or psycho-social disabilities and autistic
persons, including when consent is given by the guardian of the person subjected to sterilization.
39. The Committee recommends that the State party take appropriate measures to prevent any
forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, including women and girls with intellectual and/or
psycho-social disabilities without that individual’s free and informed consent with effective
safeguards available for the concerned persons.
Sudan (2018)35. The Committee is concerned that sterilization without the free and informed consent of womenand girls with disabilities is not explicitly prohibited.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party explicitly prohibit the forced sterilization of
persons with disabilities, in particular women and girls, and criminalize such practice.
Luxembourg (2017)
34.The Committee is concerned about reports of the forced administration of contraceptives towomen with disabilities of reproductive age, particularly of women and girls with disabilities withintellectual disabilities still living in State-funded institutions. It is also concerned that persons withdisabilities are still subject to medical treatments without their free and informed consent, particularly
persons still under guardianship.
35.The Committee recommends that the State party adopt all legislative and other measuresnecessary to prevent and stop non-consensual contraception measures or medical treatment,
including when consent is given by a third party.

Montenegro (2017)34. The Committee notes with concern that, pursuant to article 24 of the Protection and Exercise of
the Rights of the Mentally Ill Act, biomedical research may under certain circumstances be carried out
on persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities without their prior, informed and fully
voluntarily given consent.
35. The Committee urges the State party to expedite all necessary legal amendments to ensure thatany form of medical or other scientific research may not be carried out on persons with disabilities
without their prior, informed and fully voluntarily given consent. The Committee reminds the State
party that such consent cannot be given via substituted decision-making.
Morocco (2017)
36. The Committee notes with concern that persons with disabilities in the State party, particularlyintersex persons with disabilities, are subjected to corrective surgeries and to the practice of forced
sterilization, including forced chemical castration.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party prohibit and criminalize the practice ofcorrective surgeries on intersex persons with disabilities, in the absence of prior and informed
consent, and the practice of forced sterilization, including forced chemical castration. It also
recommends that the State party raise awareness of such practices as harmful and strengthenmechanisms aimed at ensuring that the informed consent of persons with disabilities is given forany medical and surgical treatment.
Panama (2017)
40. The Committee is concerned by the regulations being adopted regarding mental health care. It isalso concerned at the lack of information on forced sterilization and forced abortion.
41. The Committee urges the State party to prevent and prohibit forced sterilization and nonconsensual abortions, ensuring, without exception, that persons with disabilities, including those
whose legal capacity has been revoked, enjoy their right to free and informed consent. In addition,
the Committee requests the State party to compile and publish clear statistics on the number of
persons with disabilities subjected to forced sterilization or non-consensual abortion.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2017)
40.The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, including women, intersex persons, girls
and boys, reportedly continue to be subjected to involuntary medical treatment, including forced
sterilization and conversion surgeries.
41.The Committee recommends that the State party repeal all types of legislation, regulations andpractices allowing any form of forced intervention or surgery, and ensure that the right to free, priorand informed consent to treatment is upheld and that supported decision-making mechanisms andstrengthened safeguards are provided, paying particular attention to women, intersex persons, girls
and boys.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (2017)32. The Committee is concerned that a legal guardian may authorize medical interventions, without
the free and informed consent of the person with disabilities.
33. The Committee urges the State party to adopt effective measures to ensure respect for the rightof free, informed and prior consent by persons with disabilities for medical treatment, and toprovide efficient support mechanisms for decision- making in the State party.

Canada (2017)
35. The Committee notes with concern that although forced or compulsory sterilization is illegal in
Canada, people with disabilities, particularly people with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities,
still experience involuntary sterilization through the manipulation of their consent.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party work with provinces and territories to ensurethat health-care and substitute decision-making practices prevent involuntary sterilization, including
in situations where persons with disabilities are deemed to lack legal capacity to consent. The State
party should ensure the development of human rights education and training programmes forhealth-care providers to prevent non-consensual sterilization and/or manipulated consent of people
with disabilities.
Cyprus (2017)41. The Committee is concerned that, according to relevant legislation, persons with disabilities may
be subjected to intrusive therapy and other medical treatments without their free and informed
consent, including free and informed consent based on supported decision-making. It is also
concerned about the insufficiency of safeguards to ensure full access to and respect of persons withdisabilities’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, in particular those of women and girls, including
by enabling them to retain their fertility under all circumstances.
42. The Committee recommends that the State party take immediate steps to abolish all forms ofguardianship and ensure, including through supported decision- making and adequate counselling,that any subjection to intrusive medical or surgical treatment without the individual, prior and fully
free and informed consent, is prevented, and that personal integrity, autonomy and selfdetermination of persons with disabilities is guaranteed in accordance with general comment No. 1(2014), with a particular focus on women and girls with disabilities. It furthermore recommends that
the State party adopt appropriate safeguards in order to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy
full autonomy with respect to their sexual and reproductive rights, on an equal basis with others,
including by enabling them to retain their fertility, and that awareness of that issue be promoted
among health professionals and the general public.
Honduras (2017)
43. Al Comité le preocupa que las personas con discapacidad, especialmente mujeres y niñas, sean
objeto de esterilizaciones forzadas y otras formas de tratamientos anticonceptivos no consentidos.
44. El Comité recomienda que se adopten todas las medidas necesarias para asegurar la abolición
de todas las prácticas de esterilizaciones forzadas y abortos coercitivos de mujeres y niñas con
discapacidad, así como que se garantice el consentimiento libre e informado de todas las personas
con discapacidad para cualquier intervención o tratamiento médico.
Iran (Islamic Republic of) (2017)
36. The Committee notes with concern that persons with psychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities
could be subjected to forced sterilization at the request of third parties, including guardians.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal legislation that allows for sterilizationof persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities upon request of guardians and establish
a mechanism of supported decision-making about sexual and reproductive health and rights. It also
recommends that the State party ensure that free and informed consent is provided prior to any
form of medical treatment.

Jordan (2017)
35. The Committee is deeply concerned about the practice of subjecting persons with disabilities,
especially women and girls with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, to sterilization, despite its
prohibition in the fatwa issued in Decision No. 194-02 of 2014.
36. The Committee urges the State party to:(a) Cease the practice of sterilization in the absence of the individual’s free and informed consent;(b) Adopt the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code, prohibiting forced sterilization,2 ensurethat perpetrators are prosecuted and sanctioned, as necessary, and provide remedies to persons
subjected to forced sterilization, including adequate compensation and rehabilitation.
Republic of Moldova (2017)34. The Committee is concerned about discriminatory Ministry of Health regulations that specify“mental disability” as a criterion for sterilization. It is also concerned about reports of forced
contraceptive measures, including forced sterilization and abortion, particularly involving women withpsychosocial and/or intellectual disabilities, especially those still in residential institutions.
35. The Committee urges the State party to repeal and amend any legislation and regulations
permitting the forced or involuntary sterilization of persons with disabilities, and to prevent andstop the use of non-consensual contraceptive measures, including cases where consent is given bya third party.
Bolivia (2016)
43. The Committee is concerned that sterilization and other surgical procedures are performed
without the free and informed consent of persons with disabilities, and with no other authorization
than that of the guardian or legal representative, or by court order.
44. The Committee urges the State party to abolish the practice of sterilization of persons withdisabilities without their free and informed consent and/or by decision of a third party, andrecommends the adoption of protocols to regulate such consent in all surgical, psychiatric and otherinvasive procedures.
45. The Committee deplores the acts of violence committed against the physical and psychosocial
integrity of persons with disabilities as they exercised their legitimate right to demonstrate in public.
It is also concerned at reports of excessive use of force, intimidation and physical and verbal violenceby police officers, resulting in physical injury to demonstrators, including women and children withdisabilities.
46. The Committee urges the State party to launch an impartial and independent investigation todetermine responsibility for the acts of repression and the use of violence during demonstrations
by persons with disabilities, with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to justice and providing
physical and psychosocial redress for those concerned.
Colombia (2016)46. The Committee is concerned that the sterilization of persons with disabilities without their consent,
and with the authorization of a judge, is a legal practice, and has been confirmed by decisions of theConstitutional Court (C-182 of 13 April 2016 and T-303 of 2016), including the ordering of exceptions
to Act No. 1412 of 2010 to authorize the sterilization of children with cognitive and psychosocial
disabilities (C-131 of 2014).
47. The Committee urges the State party to take the necessary steps to abolish the sterilization of
persons with disabilities without their free and informed consent, including the repeal of article 6of Act No. 1412 of 2010. It recommends immediately reviewing the decisions of the Constitutional
Court, with a view to maintaining the prohibition, without exception, of sterilization of persons withdisabilities, particularly children, without their free and informed consent, and taking measures,including the training of judges and prosecutors, with the involvement of organizations of persons
with disabilities, on the rights of persons with disabilities and the international obligations of theState party, mainly those relating to non-discrimination on grounds of disability and the personal
integrity of children with disabilities.
Ethiopia (2016)
37. The Committee is concerned that forced treatment on the basis of impairment still exist, especiallybased on third-party consent. It is also concerned that medical personnel working with persons withdisabilities are not adequately trained on the rights of persons with disabilities, especially the right tofree, prior and informed consent.
38. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that forced treatment on the groundsof disability is fully prohibited. It also recommends that the State party train medical personnel
working with persons with disabilities on the Convention, particularly on the right to free, prior andinformed consent, in line with the Committee’s general comment No. 1.
39. The Committee is concerned at the existence of harmful practices, such as female genital
mutilation, which include women and girls with disabilities.
40. The Committee recommends that the State party effectively address female genital mutilation
both in law and in practice, including women and girls with disabilities. It also recommends that theState party take into account article 17 of the Convention while implementing target 5.3 of the
Sustainable Development Goals.
Guatemala (2016)
49. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, especially women and girls who havebeen sexually abused, deprived of their legal capacity and/or institutionalized, are subject tosterilization, abortion and other contraceptive treatments without their consent.
50. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt all possible measures to ensure that no
women or girls with disabilities are subject to forced sterilization or abortion and that all medical
procedures and treatments concerning persons with disabilities are contingent on their free andinformed consent.
Italy (2016)
45. The Committee is concerned that children are subjected to irreversible surgery for intersex
variation and other medical treatments without their free and informed consent.
46. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that no one is subjected to scientificundocumented medical or surgical treatment during infancy or childhood; that it guarantee bodily
integrity, autonomy and self-determination to the children concerned; and that it provide families
with intersex children with adequate counselling and support.
United Arab Emirates (2016)
33. The Committee is concerned that the national legislation, including article 13 of Federal Act No. 10
of 2008, permits the involuntary or forced sterilization of persons with disabilities, and allows
sterilization when consent is given by a third party.
34. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal article 13 of Federal Act No. 10 of 2008
and review its legislation to explicitly prohibit involuntary or forced sterilization of persons withdisabilities, including sterilization when consent is given by a third party.

Uruguay (2016)43. Preocupa al Comité que en el Estado parte se siga aplicando la Ley 9581, de 1936, sobre atención
de enfermos siquiátricos y las reglamentaciones que en materia de atención a la salud mental dicte el
Ministerio de Salud Pública.
44. El Comité recomienda al Estado parte que revise la Ley 9581 de 1936 y las reglamentaciones queen materia de atención a la salud mental dicte el Ministerio de Salud, garantizando sin excepción elconsentimiento libre e informado de personas con discapacidad, incluyendo a aquéllas declaradas
interdictas, como requisito indispensable para toda intervención quirúrgica o tratamiento médico,
particularmente los de carácter invasivo y aquéllos con efectos irreversibles tales como laesterilización y las cirujías a niños y niñas intersex.
Chile (2016)41. Preocupa al Comité que en el Estado parte se sigan practicando esterilizaciones sin consentimiento
libre e informado a personas con discapacidad, en su mayori ́a mujeres y niñ as, con tan solo una
solicitud de familiar o tutor, asi ́ como las evidencias de que esta es una práctica frecuente entre
personas con discapacidad psicosocial ingresadas en los centros psiquiátricos.
42. El Comité solicita al Estado Parte que revise la Ley nú m. 20584 y el Decreto570, garantizando sin
excepció n el consentimiento libre e informado de personas con discapacidad, incluyendo deaquellas declaradas interdictas, como requisito indispensable para toda intervenció n quirú rgica otratamiento médico, particularmente los de carácter invasivo y aquéllos con efectos irreversibles
́ a niñ os y niñ as intersex.
tales como la esterilizació n y las cirugias
Lithuania (2016)
37. The Committee is concerned about the provision of the Civil Code of 2000 that makes it possible
for persons with disabilities who have been deprived of legal capacity to undergo, without theirconsent, surgical operations, including castrations, sterilizations, abortions and operations for theremoval of organs, upon authorization by a court. It is also concerned at the lack of investigation ofand data on the forced sterilization of persons with disabilities.
38. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Abolish all practices of forced treatment, including non-consensual castrations, sterilizations andabortions, and eliminate the possibility for third parties such as guardians, doctors and the courts
to approve such practices, in accordance with article 12 and the Committee’s general comment No.
1;(b) Provide training for judges and health-care workers on recognition of the legal capacity of
persons with disabilities and the mechanisms of supported decision-making;(c) Collect disaggregated, reliable data on the forced sterilization of persons with disabilities.
Portugal (2016)
36. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, and especially those who have been
declared legally incapacitated, continue to be subjected against their will to termination of pregnancy,
sterilization, scientific research, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychosurgical intervention.
37. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt all possible measures to ensure respect
for the right to provide free, informed and prior consent to medical treatment and to provide
support mechanisms for decision making in the State party.
Serbia (2016)
33. The Committee is concerned that a legal guardian can authorise medical interventions, includingsterilization, without the free and informed consent of a person with disability.

34. The Committee recommends the State Party prohibit medical interventions without the priorconsent of persons with disabilities and provide sufficient remedies and compensation to thosesubjected to such procedures.
35. The Committee is deeply concerned at reports indicating regular use of physical restraint, isolation,and excessive antipsychotic therapy, including for children.
36. The Committee recommends the State party investigate all cases of forced interventions without
the free and informed consent of the person, provide protection and redress mechanisms and apply
sanctions already available.
37. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, especially those who have been
declared legally incapacitated, are still subject against their will to contraceptive treatments, abortion,sterilization, scientific research, electroconvulsive therapy or psychosurgical interventions.
38. The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary measures to ensure that theright to free, prior and informed consent for any kind of treatment that may affect a person with adisability, regardless of her/his legal capacity. It also recommends that support for decision making
regimes for persons with disabilities are provided when necessary.
Slovakia (2016)
49. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities are subjected to involuntarycommitment and treatment procedures without their free and informed consent.
50. The Committee recommends that the State party amend legislation and policies to ensure thatall persons with disabilities provide their free and informed consent to admission procedures andall forms of treatment.
51. The Committee is concerned that the Health Care Act authorizes guardians to make decisions for
women, whose legal capacity has been restricted, on their sterilization and use of contraception. The
Committee is also concerned about the lack of investigations and provisions of redress for cases offorced sterilization.
52. The Committee recommends that the State party abolish all forms of guardianship and replacethem with supported decision-making regimes, as well as investigate and provide redress forhistorical cases of forced sterilization, including for Roma women with disabilities.
Thailand (2016)
35. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, including women, girls and boys withdisabilities, continue to be subjected to involuntary medical treatment, including forced sterilization
and abortion.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party take efficient measures to protect persons withdisabilities, including women, girls and boys, from forced interventions, especially sterilization andabortion, and ensure that the individual’s right to free, prior and informed consent to treatment is
upheld and supported decision-making mechanisms are provided.
Uganda (2016)
32. The Committee observes with concern that harmful practices and sexual abuse of women withdisabilities are based on harmful stereotypes that consider women with disabilities asexual and pureand that suggest that having sexual intercourse with them might cure HIV/AIDS.
33. The Committee calls upon the State party to:(a) Adopt measures including a clear public statement and campaigns to end harmful practices
against women with disabilities, and prosecute perpetrators;(b) Adopt a strategy that includes community associations and organizations of women withdisabilities to raise awareness about their rights and dignity and inform victims about available
protection mechanisms.

34. The Committee is concerned about laws that allow forced medical treatment for of persons withdisabilities and suchlike practices. Furthermore, the Committee is concerned about the prevalenceof female genital mutilation.
35. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal all laws and practices allowing or
perpetuating forced treatment of persons with disabilities. It recommends that the State party
develop alternative modes of medical treatment that respect the dignity, will and preferences of
persons with disabilities in consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities. It also
recommends that the State party criminalize the practice of female genital mutilation.
Brazil (2015)
34. The Committee is deeply concerned that children and adults with disabilities whose legal capacity
is restricted through interdiction can be sterilized without their free and informed consent, pursuant
to Law No. 9263/1996. It is also concerned that the Statute of Persons with Disabilities (Lei Brasileirade Inclusão da Pessoa com Deficiência), authorizes surgical treatment on persons with disabilities
under curatela, in absence of free, prior and informed consent on an unequal basis with others.
35. The Committee recommends the State party take measures to:(a) immediately revise Law No. 9263/1996 and explicitly and unconditionally prohibit thesterilization of persons with disabilities in the absence of their individual prior, fully informed andfree consent;(b) ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with support to make informed choices anddecisions regarding medical procedures and interventions; and(c) conduct campaigns to raise awareness among families, guardians, medical professionals andmanagers of institutions of the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls withdisabilities, under article 17 of the Convention.
European Union (2015)
46. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities are exposed to involuntary treatment inEuropean Union Member States, including forced sterilization and abortion.
47. The Committee recommends that the European Union take possible measures to ensure theindividual right to free and informed consent to treatment is upheld and supporting decision-making
mechanisms are provided in EU Member States.
Gabon (2015)
40. The Committee is concerned that, according to information provided by the State party delegation,
the practice of female genital mutilation “only affects women and girls with disabilities who are
foreigners”, considering this a "cultural issue".
41. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt all appropriate legal and administrative
measures to eradicate female genital mutilation, for all women and girls, including women and girls
with disabilities, whatever their country of origin, in accordance to the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s General Recommendation No. 14 (1990).
Kenya (2015)
33. The Committee observes with concern that women with disabilities have been victims of forced
sterilization and that genital mutilation affects women and girls with disabilities, although is a practiceprohibited by law.
34. The Committee calls the State party to:(a) Establish mechanisms to monitor health care facilities and adopt measures to prohibit forced
sterilization and ensure that adequate information is provided in accessible formats for all womenand girls with disabilities concerning their sexual and reproductive rights; and(b) Implement the recommendations issued by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women in 2011 (CEDAW/C/KEN/CO/7) relevant to female genital mutilation, and ensurethat the action plan of the Anti-FGM Board includes compilation of information on women and girls
subjected to such a practice and mechanisms for their reparation and redress.
Mauritius (2015)
29. The Committee is concerned about the absence of safeguards to prevent forced treatment of
persons with disabilities in hospitals and institutions, especially women and girls with disabilities fromforced sterilization.
30. The Committee recommends that the State party unambiguously prohibit forced treatment of
persons with disabilities, as well as the forced sterilization women and girls with disabilities, in theabsence of the individual’s free and informed consent.
Qatar (2015)
33. The Committee is concerned about the lack of information indicating whether or not persons withdisabilities, particularly persons with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities, can be subjected to
medical interventions, notably to involuntary or coerced sterilization against their will.
34. The Committee recommends that the State party ensure that no medical treatment, in particular
involuntary and coerced sterilization, is administered without the full and informed consent of theperson concerned and requests that information in this regard is included in the next periodic report.
Ukraine (2015)
34. The Committee notes with concern that under article 281 of the Civil Code the guardian of a person
recognized as legally incapable is authorized to give consent to the sterilization of the person
concerned, thus subjecting that person to forced sterilization without his/ her free and informed
consent.
35. The Committee urges the State party to abolish the practice of sterilization without free andinformed consent of the person with disability, and to abolish article 281 of the Civil Codeaccordingly. The Committee also calls upon the State party to provide remedies to the victims offorced sterilization.
Cook Islands (2015)
35. The Committee is concerned that current legislation does not protect women and girls withdisabilities from forced sexual and reproductive health procedures nor does it provide sexual andreproductive health education.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party:(a) Revise the Criminal Code and any other relevant laws to protect women and girls with disabilities
from coerced sterilization, contraception and other forced medication without the individual’s free
and informed consent;(b) Introduce accessible sexual and reproductive health education programmes in schools and thecommunity that are inclusive of young persons with disabilities, including women and girls.
Croatia (2015)
27. The Committee is deeply concerned that children and adults with disabilities can be sterilized
without their free and informed consent pursuant to the Health Act, in cases where their parents or
guardians have so requested. It is further concerned about frequent use of forced medical treatmentof persons with disabilities.
28. The Committee recommends that:

(a) the Health Act be urgently amended to unconditionally prohibit the sterilization of boys and girls
with disabilities, and of adults with disabilities in the absence of their individual prior, fully informed
and free consent;(b) persons with disabilities are provided with support to make informed choices and decisions
regarding medical procedures and interventions, and(c) medical professionals are trained in accessible and alternative communication techniques inorder to communicate with persons with intellectual, psycho-social and sensory impairments.
Czech Republic (2015)
36. The Committee notes with concern that under the Civil Code and the Health Care Act the guardianof person with disability is authorized to give consent to the sterilization of the person concerned, thus
subjecting that person to forced sterilization without his/ her free and informed consent.
37. The Committee urges the State party to abolish the practice of sterilization without free andinformed consent of the person with disability, and to amend the Civil Code and the Health Care Act
accordingly. The Committee also calls upon the State party to provide remedies to the victims offorced sterilization in accordance with the recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee(CCPR/C/CZE/CO/3) and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW/C/CZE/CO/5).
Dominican Republic (2015)
34. The Committee is concerned about the practice of the forced sterilization of women and girls withdisabilities, who are declared “legally incompetent”.
35. The Committee recommends that the State party prohibit the forced sterilization of women andgirls with disabilities and that it have cases of sterilization reviewed by an independent authority,that it conduct investigations and punish perpetrators, and that it adopt measures for thecompensation and reparation of victims. It also recommends that a mechanism be established tooversee cases of sterilization to ensure that persons with disabilities can give free and informed
consent.
Germany (2015)
37. The Committee is concerned about: a) the lack of available data of involuntary placement andtreatment; b) the practice of forced sterilization and coercive abortions by substituted consent of
adults with disabilities; c) the lack of implementation of the 2011 recommendations CAT/C/DEU/CO/5,
para. 20, regarding upholding bodily integrity of intersex children.
38. The Committee recommends that the State party take the necessary measures, including of alegislative nature to:(a) Repeal section 1905 of the German Civil Code and explicitly prohibit in law sterilization without
the full and informed consent of the individual concerned, eliminating all exceptions including bysubstituted consent or upon court approval;(b) Ensure that all psychiatric treatments and services are always delivered with the free andinformed consent of the individual concerned;(c) Investigate human rights violations in psychiatric and older persons care settings in all Länder;(d) Implement all the recommendations of CAT/C/DEU/CO/5, para. 20 relevant to intersex children.
Mongolia (2015)
29. The Committee is concerned with the measures taken by the State party “to prevent conception inpersons with genetically psychosocial or intellectual disorders, or psychosocial or intellectually
impaired persons” without informed consent as specified in Article 37(b) of the Law on Health.

30. The Committee urges the State party to eliminate the legislative provisions from the Law on
Health, bylaws and related regulations restricting sexual and reproductive rights, and that allow
forced sterilization, and abortion for women with disabilities, in particular psychosocial andintellectual disabilities.
Turkmenistan (2015)
35. The Committee is concerned that termination of pregnancy and sterilization as a method ofcontraception may be performed based on “medical necessity” only, without the person withdisability’s individual free and informed consent.
36. The Committee recommends that the State party review its legislation in order to introduce
safeguards and ensure that termination of pregnancy and sterilization are only carried out with theprior, free and informed consent of the person concerned with safeguards.
New Zealand (2014)
37. The Committee is concerned that parents may give consent for the sterilization of their disabledchildren, and that courts may order that adults undergo sterilization without the individual’s consent.
38. The Committee recommends that the State party enact legislation prohibiting the use ofsterilization on boys and girls with disabilities, and on adults with disabilities, in the absence of theirprior, fully informed and free consent.
Republic of Korea (2014)
33. The Committee is concerned about cases of forced sterilization of women with disabilities despite
legal provisions prohibiting the practice. It is also concerned about the absence of information on
investigations undertaken by the State party on this matter.
34. The Committee urges the State party to take measures to eradicate the practice of forced
sterilization, including by raising awareness of the rights of women and girls with disabilities among
their families, in communities and within institutions, and by ensuring that mechanisms providing
protection against forced sterilization are effective and accessible. The Committee recommends that
the State party carry out investigations into recent and current cases of forced sterilization.
Mexico (2014)
37. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities are being sterilized without their free
and informed consent in institutions such as Casa Hogar Esperanza, where, according to reports
received by the Committee, forced or coerced sterilization is recommended to, authorized or
performed on girls, adolescents and women with disabilities.
38. The Committee urges the State party to launch administrative and criminal investigations into
the judicial and health authorities and institutions that recommend, authorize or perform forced
sterilizations on girls, adolescents and women with disabilities and to guarantee access to justiceand reparation for victims.
Costa Rica (2014)
37. The Committee is deeply concerned at the practice of forcing women and girls with disabilities toundergo sterilization.
38. The Committee urges the State party to take steps to eradicate the practice of forced sterilization,
to raise awareness of the rights of women and girls with disabilities within their families and among
managers of the institutions in which they are interned, and to guarantee full respect for theirpersonal, physical and mental integrity by ensuring that mechanisms providing protection against
forced sterilization are effective and accessible.

Australia (2013)
39. The Committee is deeply concerned that the Senate Inquiry Report into the Involuntary or Coerced
Sterilization of Persons with Disabilities, released in July 2013, presents recommendations, which
would allow this practice to continue. The Committee further regrets the failure of Australia toimplement the recommendations from the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC/C/15/Add.268;
CRC/C/AUS/CO/4), the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/17/10), and the Report of the UN Special
Rapporteur on Torture (A/HRC/22/53), which addresses concerns regarding sterilization of children
and adults with disabilities.
40. The Committee urges the State party to adopt national uniform legislation prohibiting the use ofsterilization of boys and girls with disabilities, and of adults with disability in the absence of theirprior, fully informed and free consent.
El Salvador (2013)
37. The Committee is concerned at the fact that the law permits the forced sterilization of women withdisabilities and the abortion of pregnancies often resulting from sexual abuse, as well as the paucity
of information about how the use of physical and pharmaceutical restraint and similar treatments in
psychiatric facilities undermines the integrity of the person and about cases brought before the Officeof the Human Rights Advocate.
38. The Committee recommends that the State party repeal provisions permitting the forced
sterilization of women with disabilities and that it prevent and investigate the practice of aborting
pregnancies resulting from sexual abuse. It also recommends that the State party ensure that theadministrative authorities provide the information needed to monitor the situation of persons withdisabilities in psychiatric hospitals.
Argentina (2012)
31. The Committee regrets that, in cases where a woman with disabilities is under guardianship, herlegal representative may give consent for a legal abortion on her behalf. It is likewise concerned that
persons with disabilities are being sterilized without their free and informed consent.
32. The Committee recommends that the State party amend article 86 of its Criminal Code andarticle 3 of Contraceptive Surgery Act No. 26.130 so that they will be in accordance with theConvention and take steps to provide the necessary support to women under guardianship or
trusteeship to ensure that the women themselves are the ones who give their informed consent fora legal abortion or for sterilization.
Spain (2011)
37. The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities whose legal capacity is not recognized
may be subjected to sterilization without their free and informed consent.
38. The Committee urges the State party to abolish the administration of medical treatment, inparticular sterilization, without the full and informed consent of the patient; and ensure thatnational law especially respects women’s rights under articles 23 and 25 of the Convention.
Tunisia (2010)
28. The Committee is concerned about the lack of clarity concerning the scope of legislation to protect
persons with disabilities from being subjected to treatment without their free and informed consent,
including forced treatment in mental health services.
29. The Committee recommends that the State party incorporate into the law the abolition ofsurgery and treatment without the full and informed consent of the patient, and ensure thatnational law especially respects women’s rights under article 23 and 25 of the Convention.