Romani
women are being coerced or forced to undergo sterilization procedures
in eastern Slovakia’s government-run health facilities, according to a
new report released today by the Center for Reproductive Rights and
Poradna pre obcianske a ludské práva, in collaboration with Ina Zoon.
Two hundred and thirty in-depth interviews were held with Romani women
in 40 settlements in eastern Slovakia. The investigative report
documents grave human rights violations against Romani women in
Slovakia, including about 110 cases where women were forcibly or
coercively sterilized, or had strong indications that they had been
sterilized. The report also documents extensive racism and verbal and
physical abuse towards Romani women in public hospitals, including the
denial of patient access to their own medical records and segregation in
patients’ rooms, maternity wards, restrooms and dining facilities.
