Women and girls in Australia living with disability can still be forced into sterilisation, after the Disability Royal Commission failed to act on calls from the body representing people with a disability to bring an end to this practice.

Women with Disabilities Australia, has described it is another form of gender-based violence that women living with disability are facing and that an end to the practice was only accepted by two state Governments in yesterday’s Governmental response.

Acting CEO of the organisation, Sophie Cusworth, claims their call for it to be ratified by Federal Government means it’s in breach of the UN’s Convention on the rights of people with disability. The UN has been making recommendations to Australia to enact legislation to prohibit forced sterilisation since 2005.

Image: Pexels – shvetsa

Produced By: Emma Myers

Featured In Story: Women with Disabilities Australia – Acting CEO Sophie Cusworth, and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 1 August 2024