Rwanda Forced Sterilization Bill Sparks Controversy

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement excoriating a draft bill in the Rwandan Parliament that would govern individuals' reproductive health with compulsory AIDS tests and forced sterilization for subjects deemed to be mentally disabled. According to HRW health and human rights director Joe Amon, "Compulsory HIV testing and forced sterilization are counterproductive to the Rwandan government's goal of improved reproductive health ... Provisions in the current bill that increase stigma, rely on coercion, and deny individuals their reproductive rights should be removed."

Amon then adds that: "While Rwanda has made notable progress in fighting stigma and responding to the AIDS epidemic, and has pledged to advance the rights of persons with disability, forced sterilization and mandatory HIV testing do not contribute to those goals, these elements of the bill undermine reproductive health goals and undo decades of work to ensure respect for reproductive rights."

According to HRW, Rwanda ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May of 2008, which is meant to guarantee protection for people with mental disabilities from encroachments on their bodily integrity.

According to the BBC:

Forced sterilisation is regarded as a crime against humanity by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Rwanda has successfully managed to lower the spread of Aids in recent years thanks to its HIV campaign. Figures from the World Bank in 2007 put the prevalence of Aids in the country at about 3%, down from 11% in 2000.

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Comments

[TanzaniaTeacher]

It is an issue of people's civil rights and the stigma that is so often imposed in countries with little understanding of the disease, its causes and its ramifications. Imagine if the US government had tried to impose mandatory testing of the gay community in the 1980's when HIV/AIDS was openly called a gay disease already.

Also, when Rwanda has already managed to reduce their numbers from 11%-3% in just over 8 years, I think it is safe to say that the measures they are already using are enough, without resorting to abuses of civil rights.

One last note, many of the women who are HIV positive in places like sub-saharan Africa were either raped and or married women who got HIV from philandering husbands. Should they be blamed and stigmatized even further beyond the abuses that they already suffer?

[Lori Bowles]

Beautifully said, Stop the violence and keep up the education. Forced anything is inhumane

[Klimb]

Well said!

[davidwayneosedach]

It is commendable that their AID's prevalence dropped from 11% to 3%.

[whoa20]

Naziesque if you ask me

[AuntiepoppyCock]

I have learned that Dr. Kings words come true, an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Why do these lawmakers and men continue to tell women what she should do with her body!

people infected by hiv should be educated not treated like lepers.
They need the knowledge on how not to pass the disease to any other person not superstition, ignorance and intolerance.

[blueskybigstar]

Compulsory testing should be for every person around the world. Knowledge prevents its spread.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Tick tick tick.......as I wait for someone to blame this on "colonialism"

[NedroidPrime]

I understand the problem with forced sterilization.

However, how can there be a problem with forcing people to take HIV tests? With how much of a problem AIDS is in Africa, this is a good thing.