Forced sterilisation of transgender people

13.12.2017

Question for written answer E-007687-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Javi López (S&D)

Last April, the European Court of Human Rights declared that compulsory sterilisation, as a preliminary step in gender reassignment surgery, is a serious infringement on human rights.

The judgment stemmed from the case of three French citizens who were denied issuance of their new identity documents due to not having undergone this procedure. The French Government reacted to the judgment by making the required legal changes to put an end to this dreadful practice.

However, 25 August 2017, the Finnish Government decided to disregard this judgment and the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Council, arguing that ‘the abolition is not included in the Government’s legislative plan’.

The ‘infertility requirement’ or ‘forced sterilisation’ still exists in the follow EU countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

1. What is the Commission’s opinion on the fact that this event is still occurring in these Member States?

2. Does it consider that the list of measures to promote equality of LGBTI persons is being effectively implemented?