End Forced Female Sterilization
- by: Care2.com
- recipient: Uzbek President Islam Karimov
Thousands of Uzbek women are forced to undergo hysterectomies, recommended to them by their doctors as an effective form of "contraception." The procedure is irreversible, and worse--it's ordered by the government.
Under the decree, physicians must convince a certain number of women a month to have the procedure or else the physicians face fines and reprimands. Some physicians even sterilize women without their consent by secretly performing the hysterectomies when they are supposed to be doing other surgical procedures.
As president of Central Asia's most populous country, Islam Karimov is concerned that Uzbek women are having too many children. This, however, is not the way for the government to control the growth of their population, and it violates the rights of Uzbek women.
Take Action Today and tell President Islam Karimov that forced sterilizations are not a valid nor humane form of birth control!
The Health Ministry of Uzbekistan made a decree in February that requires thousands of Uzbek women are forced to undergo hysterectomies, as per the recommendation of recommended of their doctors.
I understand that as Central Asia's most populous country, you are concerned that Uzbek women are having too many children. However, a hysterectomy--especially a forced one or one that is done secretly--is NOT an effective form of "contraception."
There are more effective ways of providing contraceptive methods and incentives to the Uzbek public, ways that are not irreversible or that do not violate human rights. Start with funding programs that teach people safe sex practices. You could also provide medical assistance for contraceptives and give people the CHOICE of what forms of birth control they would like to take--if they chose that path.
The possibilities for safe and humane alternatives are endless, but it is absolutely imperative that the forced sterilization process stop. It's inhumane and unacceptable!
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