Madrid: Romani women who survived coerced sterilization in Central Europe will speak about the issue during a July 5 panel discussion at the 2008 Women’s World Congress.

The survivors are reaching out to the international women’s rights movement for support and assistance in their efforts to pressure the Czech, Hungarian and Slovak governments to apologize and compensate them for the racial and gender-based violence they endured. The panelists will also produce and distribute a publication on the coerced sterilization of Romani women in Europe to raise awareness of the issue within the women’s movement.

The International Roma Women’s Network, a partner of the Advocacy Project, has issued an open letter protesting against reports that Roma women have been forcibly sterilized in Slovakia. Advocacy Project Peace Fellow Colby Pacheco is working this summer with the Dzeno Association, another partner focusing on Romani rights.

The Women’s World Congress takes place in Madrid, Spain from July 3 through 9.

Read the full press release.
Learn more about the 2008 Women’s World Congress.