US-backed program aims to sterilize 700,000 men in Rwanda
February 11, 2011
The Virginia-based Population Research Institute (PRI) has promised to do “everything in its power” to stop a plan to sterilize 700,000 men in Rwanda.
The campaign, encouraging men to undergo vasectomies, is “nominally voluntary,” according to reports, but some men—particularly in the armed forces—are likely to regard the suggestion as an order. “This amounts to coercion,” observed PRI president Steven Mosher.
The campaign in Rwanda is associated with a previous campaign encouraging circumcision, allegedly as a defense against the spread of AIDS. The campaign is being subsidized by US foreign-aid programs.
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Posted by: happyseaotter8027 -
Feb. 13, 2011 11:14 AM ET USA
Well, as sterilization will do nothing to stop the spread of HIV, I don't understand why this program is even being considered. It's my understanding that it is illegal to use federal funding for sterilization, so why is this even going on? Fighting HIV/AIDS is an admirable goal, but sterilization isn't going to make any difference. This sounds remarkably disingenuous to me.
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Posted by: FredC -
Feb. 11, 2011 7:30 PM ET USA
Why does out government focus such programs on predominantly Catholic countries?
