Home / Crime and Justice / Forced Sterilization Survivors Demand Justice in Canada
Forced Sterilization Survivors Demand Justice in Canada
26 Feb
Summary
- Survivors rally for Bill S-228 to criminalize forced sterilization.
- Report finds Indigenous, Black women and others disproportionately affected.
- Estimates suggest 12,000 to 15,000 Canadians experienced unwanted sterilization.
Survivors of forced sterilization convened in Brandon, Manitoba, to advocate for Bill S-228, legislation aimed at making the practice a criminal offense. The bill, currently before the House of Commons, would classify forced or coerced sterilization as aggravated assault, potentially leading to 14-year prison sentences.
Testimonies from survivors like Priscilla Ireland and Valerie Shorting underscored the profound trauma and loss of reproductive rights. A 2022 Senate report revealed that forced sterilizations disproportionately impacted Indigenous and Black women, individuals with disabilities, and intersex children.
Kahsenniyo Kick, representing the Survivor Circle for Reproductive Justice, estimates that 12,000 to 15,000 people in Canada have undergone unwanted sterilizations. She emphasized that the issue is ongoing, not merely historical, and highlighted the persistent stigma surrounding these experiences.
Bill S-228 previously passed the Senate and is scheduled for debate in the House of Commons. Survivors view its passage as crucial for justice, healing, and protecting future generations.
