Malta has passed a law banning forced sterilisation, making it the eleventh country worldwide to do so. The law prohibits forced sterilisation in all circumstances except when a patient’s life or health is at serious risk, or when adults provide free and informed consent.
This legislation comes after a case in 2016 involving the forced sterilisation of a woman with a mental disability without her consent. Inclusion Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli emphasised the importance of modernising legal frameworks and urged European nations to follow suit.
She highlighted the need to prioritise the rights of individuals with disabilities, particularly women. The law imposes severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines, on those who carry out or assist in forced sterilisation procedures without consent.
Additionally, it restricts parents or guardians from consenting to sterilisation procedures for children under 18, except when medically necessary.
Anyone convicted of forced sterilisation through coercion or deceit will face harsher punishment. However, the law permits sterilisation for adults if they freely consent and for health reasons. Malta’s government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting women’s rights in society through this legislation.
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