Amicae Curiae
19. Forced Sterilization in Peru - The Battle for Reproductive Justice
Grab your coffee and join us as we head to Peru to examine a state-sponsored family planning program in the 1990s that led to widespread human rights abuses against rural and Indigenous populations. This episode unpacks the case of Celia Edith Ramos Durand, a mother of three who died following a sterilization procedure administered under a system of medical quotas. We discuss how international development funds were utilized during this period, analyze the coercion used by local health clinics, and track the 29-year legal battle that recently culminated in a landmark judgment by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. From there, we break down the international legal framework, including the Court’s new classification of “reproductive violence” and its ruling on domestic amnesty laws. Finally, we draw a comparison with similar historical and ongoing issues in Canada, before connecting these past policies directly to Peru’s current presidential election. For any question or correction (because yes, we make mistakes), contact us at: contact.amicaecuriae@gmail.com
