Seanad debates

Wednesday, 27 November 2002

Overseas Development Aid: Motion.

 

In Peru there is some evidence to suggest that under President Fujimori's national population programme in which UNFPA participated there were regimes which resulted in members of the indigenous Indian population undergoing systematic and forced sterilisation. These issues arise from time to time; sometimes they are hyped up and sometimes they are not. I would, however, like the Minister to look into them. If these programmes are being supported, maybe we should look at where we use our aid. I do not suggest we withdraw it entirely but maybe place some strictures on it because a lot of good work is done by these organisations. However, when it comes to women's rights and to forced abortion or sterilisation, we must draw the line.

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