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Sweden poised to end forced sterilisation of transgender people

By James Ledward
Feb 19, 2012 - 10:11:45 AM
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Ulrika Westerlund

Following international pressure, Sweden is poised to end the forced sterilisation of transgender people.

The conservative Christian Democrats who are members of the governing coalition in Sweden and have been the primary obstacle to ending the policy of forced sterilisations have dramatically announced the time has come to reverse their former position.

A spokesperson for the Christian Decmocrats said:
"It's time to abolish the requirement for sterilisation at sex change."

The current law forces transgender persons in Sweden to undergo sterilisation before legally changing their gender. The surgery renders a person permanently infertile and unable to have children in the future.

Ulrika Westerlund, President of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights, said:
"This is incredible news for Sweden: it means that anyone will be able to have their true identity recognised without having to be sterilised.

“It's crucial that the new law comes into place as soon as possible."

The announcement comes after years of campaigning in Sweden followed by a massive international outcry coordinated by the AllOut.org website, a global alliance of over 850,000 straight, gay, lesbian, bi and trans people.

The global campaign to stop forced sterilisation in Sweden was the largest online campaign in history supporting human rights for transgender people.

Andre Banks, Executive Director of AllOut.org said:
"Swedish activists have worked for years to lay the foundation for this victory and I am so proud that AllOut.org could build the international momentum that finally pushed Prime Minister Reinfeldt and party leaders to end this cruel practice."

"It's a victory for Sweden, but it is also decisive for Europe. AllOut.org members across the continent will continue to push online and in Parliament until each of these appalling laws are thrown out with the trash.”  

Since January, the international campaign coordinated by AllOut.org has generated discussion on an issue that rarely receives coverage in mainstream media outlets with more than 50,000 Europeans calling on Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt to take a clear stand against forced sterilisation.

Surgery leading to sterilization has been identified as a requirement in 29 member states of the EU. (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark,291Estonia, Finland,292France, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine)
www.coe.int/t/Commissioner/Source/LGBT/LGBTStudy2011_en.pdf

With no remaining obstacles, Sweden's repeal sets a new precedent for the 28 remaining European countries with laws requiring forced sterilisation


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