Aggregated News
The Stockholm administrative court of appeal recently ruled that the practice of forced sterilisations, which dated back to a 1972 law on sexual identity, was unconstitutional and in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In its December 19 decision, the court said the law did not respect civil liberties as guaranteed by the constitution, and was discriminatory since it solely targetted transgender people.
The ban on the practice entered into force on Thursday after an appeal period ended, judge Helen Lidoe told AFP.
The head of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights (RFSL), Ulrika Westerlund, hailed the change, noting that many of those who were sterilised under the old law now hope to be compensated by the state.
"If lawmakers take the initiative to adopt a law outlining damages, we will not file a lawsuit," she said.
She said 200,000 kronor (23,500 euros, $31,000) per person would be a "fair sum."
In 1999, the Swedish parliament adopted a law granting damages of 175,000 kronor to victims of forced sterilisations under a eugenics programme that...