Panel on Forced Sterilization of Romani Women at the 2008 Women's World Congress

As part of the 2008 Women's World Congress, OSI's Roma Health Project supported a panel discussion organized by the Group of Women Harmed by Sterilization, the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC), and Peacework Development Fund on the issue of coerced sterilization of Romani women in Central and Eastern Europe. This event marked the beginning of an advocacy campaign launched in the summer of 2008 that aims at achieving justice and remedy for victims of coerced sterilization in the region.

The panel discussion was held on July 5with participants from around the world. Those present showed their full support and compassion for Romani women at the discussion, who had been coercively sterilized. Elena Gorolová, representative of the Group of Women Harmed by Sterilization, said meeting the international participants gave her an important message to bring home: "Don't give up, fight on."

In addition to the panel, activists helped raise awareness of the issue by distributing publications and postcards (see attached below) throughout the congress. The postcards will be sent to relevant government officials in Hungary and the Czech Republic to urge these governments to comply with UN recommendations regarding coercive sterilization and to implement the A.S. v. Hungary decision by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

At the time of the congress, postcard campaigns were also launched in Ostrava, Czech Republic and Budapest, Hungary. The organizations liaised with local Romani organizations and other NGOs as well to increase the number of postcards sent to the governments. Hundreds of postcards reached the relevant Hungarian and Czech ministries in July and August 2008.

In September the three organizations plan to meet government officials to push for the desired changes in the law on sterilization and demand compensation for victims. They are also planning to translate the information brochures into Hungarian and Czech and distribute them in Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The panelists found the participation at the Congress very useful as they made contacts in the international women's movement that they can later rely on for support. The event provided a supportive beginning for the advocacy campaign.